Antares Rocket explosion on launch

I'm kinda curious what impact yesterday's scrubbed launch may have had on the rocket. I don't know a whole lot about rockets but sometimes equipment doesn't like to be shut down at the last minute.

 

Kind of gives the leg up to Space-X, who was competing with Orbital for both cargo and eventual manned operations to the ISS.

It is very common to scrub launches for problems or weather issues (precip, wind at SL or altitude) and retry at a later date. Usually with no ill affects.

 

From another view

Video: Antares Rocket Explosion Seen from Small Airplane | Flying Magazine

 

Seems to be some blame implied due to the "1960's era Soviet rocket engines" being used in the Antares.

Musk has been openly critical of Antares using them.

 

Elon called the Antares "A joke". We looked at the AJ-26, Aerojet's version of the Russian NK-33, for an RLV, but passed.

Incidentally, I misspoke, NASA is qualifying the Falcon 9 and the Delta IV for manned operations, not Antares.

 

The damage to the pad doesn't appear to be as bad as it would seem.

Click on the photo within the link for a hi-res view.

NASA?s Wallops Flight Facility Completes Initial Assessment after Orbital Launch Mishap | NASA

Cropped photo here:
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That's prolly a good thing...

Also, I was wondering what engines the Russians are using for their manned missions... which have also been OUR manned missions since the Shuttle was canned.

 

They are using RD 117s and RD 118s for the first and second stages, which burn simultaneously (4 RD 117 strap-ons). Fairly simple gas generator LOX kerosene engines with around 225 Klbst. Latest upper stage is an RD0124, a much more advanced staged combustion (closed cycle) LOX kerosene engine with around 66 Klbst.

Earlier Soyuz versions did use the NK 33.

 

Here's a 10 minute GoPro vid (very close), begin at the 5:15 mark.

GoPro video of NASA rocket explosion | WAVY-TV

 

Impressive view. The explosion was very, very strong....

 

Ka-Blooey!