A NASA video image shows an Orbital Sciences Corporation unmanned spacecraft
exploding on October 28, 2014 at Wallops Island, Virginia, six seconds after launch
(Photo AFP) |
Russia on Wednesday offered to help the United States with deliveries to the International Space Station after an unmanned American supply rocket exploded on lift-off.
"If a
request is made for the urgent delivery of any American supplies to the ISS
with the help of our vessels then we will fulfill the request," Russian
space agency official Alexei Krasnov told state-run RIA Novosti news agency, adding
that NASA had not yet asked for assistance.
An unmanned
rocket owned by private firm Orbital Sciences Corporation exploded Tuesday in a
giant fireball and plummeted back to Earth just seconds after a launch from
Wallops Island, Virginia on what was to be a resupply mission.
Orbital's
Cygnus cargo ship was carrying 5,000 pounds (2,200 kilograms) of supplies for
the six astronauts living at the research outpost, a US-led multi-national
collaboration.
Officials
said the cost of the rocket and supplies was over $200 million, not including
the damage caused on the ground.
Europe
stopped delivering supplies to the ISS this summer, and the outpost is now
resupplied by Russia and two NASA-contracted private American firms -- Space X
and Orbital Sciences.
Russia on
Wednesday successfully launched its own supply mission from the Baikonur launch
site in Kazakhstan.
The Russian
cargo ship Progress took off for the ISS on a planned mission to replace a
sister vessel.
Krasnov
said that the impact of the loss of the rocket on Russian operations at the
space station would be "minimal."
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