The Virginia Commercial Spaceflight Authority (VCSA) says that the burned launch pad is expected to be back up and running by late 2015.

On October 28, the Antares rocket exploded seconds after liftoff from Wallops Island on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.The rocket suffered an engine failure shortly after launch that prompted the commercial spaceflight company to destroy it remotely before it could reach an inhabited area. Antares was carrying a cargo ship that was bound for the International Space Station (ISS).

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Virginia Commercial Spaceflight Authority said the blast levelled two lightning towers at the launch pad and the additional towers went through enough damage that needs replacement. The nearby water tower experienced slight burn and had exterior lighting damaged. The two nearby buildings that were scheduled for demolition have undergone sever damage.

“This pad has come through in very good shape. It’s still some significant repairs, but it’s a $120 million pad and the repairs are less than $20 million,” said Dale Nash, executive director of the Virginia Commercial Spaceflight Authority.

NASA said that they find any environmental hazards being released into the air as a result of the explosion. The water retention basins of the launch pad were emptied and will be cleaned to avoid any future contamination.

The U.S. space agency will keep an eye on the subsequent pumping, taking regular water samples for treatment.The soil near the crater will be examined as wwell to see if it has become positive for residual chemicals.

TagsNASA, launch pad, rocket, Antares, antares rocket, Virginia Commercial Spaceflight Authority, engine failure