The explosion of the Antares space rocket was caught on camera from thousands of feet in the air by two people flying a light aircraft in the vicinity. The spacecraft was heading to the International Space Station (ISS) on a supply mission.
The video shows the initial massive flash of light, which is accompanied by an “Oh wow.” The words “Uh-oh...holy crap!” can be heard upon the realization that something has gone wrong. Thick streams of smoke then start billowing from the accident site.
The explosion happened seconds after launch. The rocket had been
carrying some 2300 kg worth of supplies to the six astronauts on
the ISS.
The men filming the explosion on their iPads had been flying a
light aircraft close to the site of the launch late on Tuesday,
at Wallops Island, on Virginia’s eastern shore.
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“Video was taken in our Cessna 177 Cardinal from an altitude
of 3000ft,” said the video’s poster, Ed Sealing of Sealing
Technologies Inc.
NASA has warned that the explosion may have resulted in debris
scattered across the surrounding areas and may even wash up on
the shore.
On its website’s orbital information page, NASA urged anyone who
finds such debris to report it to the agency.
“Damage related to the Oct. 28 launch attempt of an Antares
rocket was contained to the hazard area, but there may have been
a scattering of debris. Public safety is our No. 1 priority. If
people find debris in the vicinity of the launch, please stay
away and call the Incident Response Team at 757-824-1295.”