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NASA just released close-up photos of the cataclysmic Antares rocket explosion, and they're eerily beautiful

NASA just released close-up photos of the cataclysmic Antares rocket explosion, and they're eerily beautiful

The rocket was initially supposed to launch on Oct. 27, when this photos was taken, but was postponed because a boat was floating too close off shore.

NASA just released close-up photos of the cataclysmic Antares rocket explosion, and they're eerily beautiful

The following morning was gorgeous. The rocket was scheduled to launch at 6:22 pm that evening out of NASA's Wallops Flight Facility along Virginia's eastern shore.

The following morning was gorgeous. The rocket was scheduled to launch at 6:22 pm that evening out of NASA

Liftoff looked good.

Liftoff looked good.

In 2008, NASA had granted Orbital $1.9 billion to complete eight cargo missions to the ISS by 2016. This was the third mission.

In 2008, NASA had granted Orbital $1.9 billion to complete eight cargo missions to the ISS by 2016. This was the third mission.

The rocket was still in good condition about a second after lift off:

The rocket was still in good condition about a second after lift off:

But about 15 seconds in, something went horribly wrong:

But about 15 seconds in, something went horribly wrong:

Later investigations revealed that the failure began with the rocket's two AJ26 engines.

Later investigations revealed that the failure began with the rocket

The AJ26 engine was a refurbishes version of the NK-33 engine that the Soviet Union had built in the 1960s to get cosmonauts to the moon.

The AJ26 engine was a refurbishes version of the NK-33 engine that the Soviet Union had built in the 1960s to get cosmonauts to the moon.

It was likely a flaw in the engine design that led a spinning rotor to touch something it was supposed to, triggering the explosion, Orbital engineers later concluded.

It was likely a flaw in the engine design that led a spinning rotor to touch something it was supposed to, triggering the explosion, Orbital engineers later concluded.

The explosion destroyed the Antares rocket, the Cygnus spacecraft, and the 5,000 pounds of cargo inside.

The explosion destroyed the Antares rocket, the Cygnus spacecraft, and the 5,000 pounds of cargo inside.

Eventually, what was left of the rocket and its cargo fell back to Earth.

Eventually, what was left of the rocket and its cargo fell back to Earth.

The explosion damaged the launch pad, too.

The explosion damaged the launch pad, too.

The explosion caused $15.2 million in damage to the launch pad, alone. It took nearly a year for repair crews to get the launch pad to flight-ready status, once more.

The explosion caused $15.2 million in damage to the launch pad, alone. It took nearly a year for repair crews to get the launch pad to flight-ready status, once more.

Insurance paid out another $1 million or so for damage to nearby NASA buildings.

Insurance paid out another $1 million or so for damage to nearby NASA buildings.

Shortly after the disaster, Orbital ATK terminated its contract with the subcontractor that supplied the AJ26 engines, Aerojet Rocketdyne.

Shortly after the disaster, Orbital ATK terminated its contract with the subcontractor that supplied the AJ26 engines, Aerojet Rocketdyne.

Orbital ATK has not flown since.

Orbital ATK has not flown since.

Orbital has since been working on refurbishing their Antares rocket with modern, new engines. And last month, they announced that they hope to fly again by mid-2016.

Orbital has since been working on refurbishing their Antares rocket with modern, new engines. And last month, they announced that they hope to fly again by mid-2016.

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