World
Updated : Oct 31, 2014, 08:24 AM IST
The crash of an unmanned Orbital Sciences
The Antares rocket was powered by a pair of Soviet-era NK-33 engines that were rebuilt by Aerojet Rocketdyne, a unit of GenCorp
"It's a wake-up call that we need to move forward, we need to move smartly, we need to move together to protect this industry," he said. "We need to move beyond today's technology ... and look for that next generation of engine that's even more reliable, even more capable."
US authorities are investigating the explosion, which destroyed cargo and equipment that was bound for the International Space Station. Orbital on Thursday said a preliminary investigation showed the failure initiated in the first stage of the rocket, which housed the AJ-26 engines, but it provided few additional details. Analysts and industry officials this week said the Antares explosion over Virginia could accelerate US efforts to develop a homegrown rocket engine.
The Pentagon is considering its next steps in a bid backed by congress to replace the RD-180 engines - an initiative that has drawn great interest from Boeing, Aerojet Rocketdyne, and Alliant Techsystems Inc
Chadwick said he saw great promise in United Launch Alliance's decision to partner with Blue Origin, a company founded by entrepreneur Jeff Bezos, and leverage the smaller company's three years of work and investment in a new rocket engine.