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Environmental Impact of Antares Rocket Explosion at Wallops

NASA tv

The environmental impact report on the explosion of the Antares rocket at Wallops Flight Facility is in.

And, it found that some of the most serious occurred inside the 50 foot crater that saw ground water seep into the hole created by the rocket as it exploded 15 seconds after liftoff.

Around the site there was contamination from perchlorate which is used to make the rocket fuel.

That could pose a risk to the workers.

There were two recommendations.    

One called for a groundwater study while another said monitoring of the site should continue for some time.

The rocket launch was a resupply mission to the International Space Station.

But, it was aborted seconds after liftoff.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.