Science experiments made by students, researchers and private companies were dreams that shattered in a matter of seconds when the Antares rocket exploded Tuesday night during launch. 

The unamnned Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket was to launch the Cygnus spacecraft carrying cargo to the International Space Station that included food for the astronauts and equipment along with these science experiments.

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Unfortunately, Antares exploded and crashed just six seconds after launch from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virgina. It was also carrying 26 small Earth observation satellites and a spacecraft that was to test asteroid mining. No one was hurt or injured during the rocket launch failure.

According to Orbital Executive Vice President Frank Culbertson, NASA expressed its disappointment that they failed in their obligation to deliver important cargo to the International Space Station program.

Antares' Cygnus spacecraft was carrying some 4,883 pounds of cargo of which 1,603 pounds consisted of science experiments made by students and researchers.

The asteroid mining spacecraft destroyed in the Antares explosion was called the Arkyd 3 built by Planetary Resources. Stacey Tearne from Planetary Resources said his company was aware of the apparent risks the Antares Cygnus cargo mission presented.

They're now working on their next vehicle called the Arkyd 6 that will launch in 2015.

Among the other equipment the Antares explosion destroyed was a fleet of 26 small satellites made by Planet Labs that would have observed Earth from space. Will Marshall, CEO of Planet Labs, said his company fully understood the risks of this mission,

He said the company's strategy to lessen these risks is to deploy their satellites and distribute them among different vehicles and vendors.

Student experiments destroyed in the Cygnus launch failure include some projects in NASA's Student Spaceflight Experiments Program that include crystal growth in space and how microgravity affects milk spoilage.

TagsAntares Rocket Explosion Destroyed Student Experiments, Satellites and an Asteroid Mining Spacecraft, NASA, ISS, antares rocket, cygnus spacecraft cargo, failed rocket launch antares exploded cargo supply