A decades-old Soviet engine is probably to blame for last week's rocket explosion. Last Tuesday, Orbital Science’s unmanned Antares rocket detonated 15 seconds into launch, injuring no one but destroying thousands of pounds of supplies meant for the International Space Station. Speculation focused on to the refurbished Soviet rocket engines Orbital was using, and in a conference call today, Orbital CEO David Thompson confirmed that the speculation was probably right.
"While still preliminary and subject to change, the current evidence strongly suggests that one of the two AJ26 main engines that powered Antares' first stage failed about 15 seconds after ignition," Thompson said, stressing that more analysis needs to be done. "At this...
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