A rocket launch meant to bring supplies to the International Space Station went horribly awry mere seconds after launch as the rocket went up in flames.

The rocket was launched at 6:22pm from Wallops Island, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and exploded six seconds later, falling to the ground in a massive fireball. Fire then ignited in about a 100 yard radius of marshy land.

The rocket was unmanned and contained 5,000 pounds of supplies.  Thankfully, no one was injured.

The rocket was built by NASA contractor Orbital Sciences Corp., who labeled the incident as a “catastrophic failure.”

There was no classified cargo aboard the ship. The cargo included student experiments, food, hardware, and equipment. It’s not a complete loss, however, since a few hours later a Russian resupply rocket was launched and safely arrived at the ISS.

“The station is in great shape; the crew is in good shape,” said Mike Suffredini, said the ISS program manager.

NASA teams are now out investigating the area and are encouraging the public not to touch any debris if they find any. If they find debris, authorities are asking them to call NASA at 757-824-1295.

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