Washington, D.C. – House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Space Subcommittee Chairman Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.) released the following statement in response to Tuesday's failed launch attempt at a Wallops Island,Virginia launch facility.
Chairman Smith and Palazzo: “We add our disappointment to the thousands in the space community who worked tirelessly in support of Tuesday evening's launch attempt at Wallops Island. We are relieved to hear there are no reported fatalities, and we anticipate learning more about the circumstances surrounding the launch failure in the near future."
Tuesday's launch was intended to carry a Cygnus spacecraft into orbit to dock with and deliver supplies to the International Space Station. The Antares rocket carrying the craft appeared to explode just moments after liftoff.
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