Alliant Techsystems rocket fails, blown up by NASA...

NASA destroyed an experimental Alliant Techsystems Inc. rocket early Friday morning following a failed launch, the agency has confirmed.

The unmanned rocket, carrying two NASA research satellites, was destroyed 27 seconds after taking off from a NASA facility in Virginia at 4:10 a.m. The cause of the failure is not yet known.

Most of the debris from the rocket fell into the Atlantic Ocean, NASA reported, but there are conflicting reports that some has been spotted on land.

“NASA is very disappointed in this failure but has directed its focus on protecting public safety and conducting a comprehensive investigation to identify the root cause,” the agency said in a statement. “NASA is assembling a multidiscipline team, along with the rocket’s maker, Alliant Techsystems … to begin the investigation promptly.”

Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) is based in Edina.