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spacex fire

SpaceX has lost some other Falcon 9 rocket, just at that place wasn't even a launch scheduled for today. The spacecraft exploded while still on the launchpad in training for a launch this weekend at Cape Canaveral, Florida. SpaceX has confirmed the explosion destroyed the rocket and its payload, a satellite for Facebook's cyberspace.org project.

The company is still investigating the cause of the accident, which took identify at nigh 9AM eastern time, just no one will be able to become a good look at the wreckage right abroad. The launchpad was still belching out fume and fire for hours later the explosion. There were also a number of secondary explosions that kept everyone at a distance.

SpaceX-Falcon-9

SpaceX's Falcon 9.

Co-ordinate to SpaceX, the explosion took identify during a fueling operation for pre-launch testing. As per regulations, all personnel were at a safe distance from the rocket, so there were no injuries. While the cause is currently unknown, founder Elon Musk has stated that the visitor believes the explosion originated around the upper stage oxygen tank. That's function of the propulsion organization for the payload, non the first phase that SpaceX has successfully landed post-obit launch several times in recent months.

Facebook has expressed disappointment in the loss of its Amos-6 communication satellite. The satellite was supposed to deliver broadband internet access to remote locations in Africa as function of the internet.org initiative. Facebook and satellite provider Eutelsat spent $95 million to license satellite'south Ka-ring communications assortment for five years. The satellite is owned by Israel-based Spacecom.

This explosion marks the second payload loss for SpaceX in the last few years. It was last June that a Falcon ix rocket exploded during launch, taking with it a load of supplied and scientific equipment destined for the International Infinite Station. In that case, a faulty strut was constitute to be the cause. SpaceX fixed the problem, and seemed to be on a roll with a number of successful launches and landings for the Falcon ix. SpaceX is also set up to begin carrying humans into space side by side yr as part of NASA'due south commercial coiffure program.

With the last rocket explosion, it was conspicuously a problem with the rocket — we all saw it become nail. This time, there are more variables. The Falcon ix wasn't firing its engines as it was being fueled in preparation for a static fire exam. At that place could accept been some malfunction in the rocket that caused the explosion, or it might accept been a problem with the launchpad equipment. We'll have to wait for the result of the investigation to know for sure.

Image via Hunter Blaeser