Gallery: Antares rocket explodes

Bidding farewell to the International Space Station today, the commercial Cygnus cargo ship separated to a safe distance before igniting an intentional fire in microgravity like never before, all in the name of science.

A commercial Antares cargo booster powered by new kerosene-fueled rocket engines streaked into orbit from a launch pad on the Virginia coastline Monday, returning to service to resupply the International Space Station after a two-year grounding stemming from a fiery crash in 2014.

Kurt Eberly, who helps lead the Antares rocket program at Orbital ATK, recently spoke with Spaceflight Now about the launcher’s return-to-flight with newly-built engines later this year.