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Cape Town - Despite the relative routine nature of launches into space, the explosion of the Orbital Sciences craft has illustrated that the industry remains a high-risk one.
During the Apollo programme in 1970, the crew uttered words that have made an indelible impression in pop culture: "Houston, we've had a problem here." A fire on board forced the crew to carry out emergency repairs and fly past the Moon in a desperate attempt to get back to Earth safely.
On Wednesday, Orbital Sciences under contract with US space agency Nasa, attempted to launch a supply mission to the International Space Station.
But the mission delivered an expensive fireworks display as the rocket blew up just seconds after launch.
While no lives were lost nor injuries reported, it brought home the fact that space missions are dangerous and it would have been disastrous if astronauts were on board.
Both SpaceX and Orbital sciences are among a number of companies bidding for the opportunity to ferry astronauts to the ISS after Nasa retired the space shuttle.
Here is a list of some of the more devastating incidents related to the space industry:
1967
As the space race got underway, three astronauts died aboard Apollo 1 as they prepared for launch on 21 February. A fire as a result of an electric short was exacerbated by the pure oxygen atmosphere in the space craft.
The Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft lands with Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka of Russia, Flight Engineers Joe Acaba and Sergie Revin in a remote area near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan. (Carla Cioffi, Nasa, AP, file)
1971
The crew of Soyuz 11 was killed when the three cosmonauts undocked from space station Salyut 1. The deaths were attributed to a failed cabin vent valve that opened accidentally. This is the only known death in space.
The space shuttle Endeavour lifts off from Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral. (John Raoux, AP, file)
1986
The first fatalities in the shuttle programme occurred when Space shuttle Challenger blew up shortly after life-off from Cape Canaveral. All seven crew died, including teacher Christa McAuliffe.
This 1986 file photo shows the crew of the space shuttle Challenger, from left, Ellison Onizuka, Mike Smith, Christa McAuliffe, Dick Scobee, Greg Jarvis, Ron McNair and Judith Resnik. (Nasa, AP, file)
2003
Space Shuttle Columbia was destroyed on re-entry and seven astronauts were killed as the vehicle broke up over the south-western US.
During the Cold War, one the main drivers of space exploration was to accelerate military technology. However, today former enemies co-operate of globally important projects like the International Space Station.
Space flight takes place in one of the most inhospitable environments known to man and beyond the fatalities, there have been numerous close calls and failures.
The International Space Station orbits at around 400km from the Earth's surface. (Nasa, AP, file)
Space industry incidents usually cause companies and organisations to re-evaluate procedures to improve safety. In the case of the Challenger disaster, cultural changes took place at Nasa and civilian flights were scrubbed for 22 years.
In SA, companies like Marcom Aeronautics and Space are convinced that local launches can be conducted for specific satellite markets.
India is already marketing itself as a cheaper satellite launch alternative to Europe, Russia and the US.
Despite the challenges of space flight, this final frontier begs to explored so that humans can answer the ultimate question: "Are we alone?"
Watch this online video of the Orbital Sciences rocket explosion:
