Operator Blew Up Rocket: Self Destruct System Caused NASA Antares Explosion

We have seen the video as NASA Antares rocket exploded during launch early this week. So the question left unanswered is, what caused the explosion?

Well, that question has been answered today. The company that operated the flight hit the rocket’s destruct button, a spokesman said. They know that there was a problem with the launch, and the only way to prevent the rocket from landing in a populated area was to destroy it, according to CNN.

Mark Kelly, retired NASA astronaut and SpaceX advisory board member, said it was the right call.

“They commanded the destruct system to make sure it didn’t wind up in a populated area when they knew it wasn’t going to make it to orbit,” he said.

The rocket was carrying a Cygnus cargo ship for the International Space Station.