For the second time in two weeks, an unmanned rocket exploded during liftoff Wednesday night.
This time, it was Boeing’s newest rocket making its inaugural flight.
The Delta III rocket vanished in bright orange flashes a little over a minute into flight, with the wreckage crashing into the Atlantic Ocean. No one was injured.
The rocket and satellite on board, a Galaxy communication satellite, were valued at $225 million. The satellite was insured.
“At this time, we have no idea what happened to the rocket,” Boeing’s launch commentator reported.
On Aug. 12, a much bigger and more powerful Air Force Titan rocket exploded 40 seconds after liftoff, destroying the spy satellite on board. That accident totaled more than $1 billion.
Boeing officials said an investigation into Wednesday’s accident would begin immediately.
