On tuesday we were reminded just how hard space flight can be.  Luckily, this was an unmanned space flight headed to the International Space Station with supplies.  This was the first of 10 planned space flights to refuel and restock the ISS and her crew.  In total, a 2 billion dollar project.  This one rocket launch was an estimated 200 million dollar loss.  The damage has not been fully assessed and having happened so close to the launch pad the cost of repairs will most certainly exceed simply the cost of the rocket and supplies.

They have not released the details of the problem that caused the explosion but they don’t believe it was a failure in the engines.  Their number 1 priority will be to make the repairs to the launchpad and find the anomaly that was the root of the failure.

Remember people, making anything travel that far is an expensive and dangerous endeavor but with tragedy comes learning how to improve.  Space flight has helped introduce many new inventions that impact our lives directly every day.  It’s because of orbiting satellites that I can find my way to the closest Krispy Kreme.  I call that a win.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6U-xbzgTH0