Orbital to Drop Soviet-Era Engines Used on Failed Rocket
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Orbital Sciences Corp. said its Antares rocket will no longer use the Soviet-era engines from Aerojet Rocketdyne that powered the spacecraft destroyed after liftoff last week.
A preliminary probe has pointed to a turbopump failure on one of the two AJ26 engines that led to an explosion 15 seconds in to a Commercial Resupply mission to the International Space Station on Oct. 28. Orbital said today discussions are under way with three launch providers for replacement lift.