On this day in space! Oct. 17, 2016: Private Antares rocket returns to flight after catastrophic launch explosion

On Oct. 17, 2016, Orbital ATK successfully returned to flight by launching an upgraded Antares rocket carrying cargo to the International Space Station. The mission followed a nearly two-year hiatus prompted by a catastrophic explosion just seconds after liftoff during a previous attempt. The rocket lifted off from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia despite earlier delays.

Six days after launch, the Cygnus cargo spacecraft arrived at the orbital laboratory to deliver vital food, supplies, and science experiments for the station crew. The successful flight mattered because the space station depends on regular cargo deliveries to sustain continuous human occupancy and research. NASA contracted commercial resupply service providers like Orbital ATK, now known as Northrop Grumman Space Systems, alongside SpaceX to keep the United States operating segment supplied.

These resupply missions work alongside international vehicles from agencies in Russia, Europe, and Japan. Following this successful return, the Antares rocket flew 12 more times before requiring another redesign standstill.