October 29, 2014
Mariah Timms
News Writer
National
A rocket that exploded upon launch in Virginia Tuesday evening used former Soviet rocket engines that were produced between 1969 and 1972 before being sold to Orbital Sciences. The engines were discarded by the Soviets after they failed tests, before Orbital recently bought them. Orbital used modified versions of these discontinued engines in the supply rocket. Investigations are ongoing into what actually caused the explosion. Orbital has a $1.9 billion contract for eight supply missions to the International Space Station.
