A Minotaur II+ rocket exploded approximately 11 seconds after launching at 11 p.m. Wednesday, July 6, from the North Vandenberg Space Force Base.
There were no injuries in the explosion, and the debris was contained to the immediate vicinity of the launch pad. The Vandenberg Fire Department was on scene responding to a fire caused by the launch explosion at 1 a.m. Thursday July 7, but the base has not yet confirmed if the fire is still burning.
“We always have emergency response teams on standby prior to every launch,” said Colonel Kris Barcomb, Space Launch Delta 30 vice commander and launch decision authority for the Wednesday-night launch. “Safety is our priority at all times.”