Antares rocket explosion: AJ26 Soviet-made engines may have compromised the mission

AJ26 Soviet-era engines built four decades ago may have played a significant role in the mishap that led to the explosion of the Antares rocket that was launched on Thursday in Virginia.

The BBC reported that an unknown failure took place 15 seconds into the flight on Thursday, prompting the range safety officer to activate the rocket’s self-destruct system.

The first stage of the Antares rocket is powered by two AJ26 engines, which were built by the Soviet Union 40 years ago. These engines are now at the center of the ongoing investigation.

The explosion and fire reportedly covered a 100-meter area, while some of the debris may have washed onto nearby beaches.

The mission was to deliver 2,200 kilograms of supplies to astronauts on the International Space Station. Its failure does not endanger the astronauts, as their current supplies will last until next spring.

The Antares rocket, built by American company Orbital Sciences, was launched from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on Thursday.

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[JohnDoe-ndgm]

Thats what happens when you use soviet technology. Didn't expect anything more.

[stonewall]

WTF is NASA using a 40 year old engine. LOL  NASA is not using the most modern technology. lol

[Zanozus]

You can't call AJ26 Soviet or Russian engine. It was deeply modificated by several companies.
An original engine is НК-33.

[dontbeghey]

You guys posted this October 28 already

[NightWolfXVI]

I thought NASA develop there own engines in house with new technology every year.

[quicknkarry]

Metal Gear Solid 3 anyone? Especially what happened to The Boss when she relayed the Soviet info to the US? Lol

[Moreththerogue]

Overheard in the halls of NASA: "I got selected to go the ISS? That is so f'ing cool! I can't wait!"
"What do you mean budget cutbacks and we can't new engines? We're using ones that are 40 YEARS OLD?"
"Ummm can I sell my seat on Ebay?"

[jaythree]

So Tomonews thinks this happened on Thursday? WOW... I mean they do both start with T's

[EastBeast]

To bad we squash the deal with Russia for trade. U.S is going to have to make their own engines for now on

[LodewijkVrije]

well ofcourse its passed off as a soviet made engine.... the AJ26 is a heavily modified NK-33 the only thing left soviet about it is the design. electronics upgraded, gimbal added. along with a host of other things.

after this failure they started using RD-181, pretty much the same engine as the NK-33 and AJ-26 its just larger and it works. made in Russia ofcourse, with 101 RD-180's orderd and about 70 deliverd now. and another 60 orders for the RD-181 specifically built for the Antares. its clear that the us still needs to do some research to get this soviet technology for themselves. not untill 2022 at the earliest according to the pentagon and NASA. if everything goes well you might have them by 2025. they'll probably wont outperform the RD-191 though and they will be more expensive.

[ИванФёдоров-св]

This engine is of Ukrainian origin. Ukraine - not the poor state space, trying to play the Soviet technologies and adapt them to Antares. They can not make reliable engines, this model (AJ26) for more than 30 years.

[arandomguest]

the russians owe us a shit ton of money

[TectaKrabaj]

Just played ksp same thing happened coincidence? *puts on tinfoil hat*