Orbital Science’s Antares rocket explodes on launch at NASA flight facility

A ROCKET carrying supplies for the International Space Station has exploded on launch, sending a huge fireball into the sky as the world watched on.

A ROCKET exploded just after it launched from a NASA launchpad in the US state of Virginia, sending a massive fireball into the sky.

The unmanned Orbital Sciences Antares rocket had been on a supply mission to the International Space Station.

Scientists were scrambling to figure out what went wrong after the Cygnus capsule hauling thousands of kilograms of space gear exploded six seconds after blast-off, NBC reports.

Nobody was believed to have been injured, though there was significant damage to the equipment.

BREAKING: NASA Antares rocket explodes on launch. Developing... pic.twitter.com/TQIzWpEOD8

— NewsBreaker (@NewsBreaker) October 28, 2014

The launch was supposed to deliver crucial equipment and food to astronauts as well as carry out science experiments.

Photo of #Antares rocket exploding just after launch from @NASA_Wallops on Wallops Island, VA. Rocket unmanned. #nasa pic.twitter.com/3jMSYgp6mc

— Eduardo A. Encina (@EddieInTheYard) October 28, 2014

BREAKING: NASA rocket Antares explodes upon launch; no loss of life reported. Video: http://t.co/NxcmYSFYg1 pic.twitter.com/19BBCH0jiQ

— KTLA (@KTLA) October 28, 2014

The Antares rocket was set to carry some 5,000 pounds of supplies & experiments to the International Space Station. http://t.co/4CP1PQTm43

— CNN (@CNN) October 28, 2014

“There was failure on launch,” NASA spokesman Jay Bolden said. “There was no indicated loss of life.”

“There was significant property and vehicle damage. Mission control is trying to assess what went wrong.”