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| SpaceX rocket explodes during pre-launch test (VIDEO) | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A SpaceX booster rocket exploded on the launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida, as tropical storm Hermine bore down on the area. The Falcon 9 rocket was scheduled to launch an Israeli satellite providing Facebook broadband to Africa. | A SpaceX booster rocket exploded on the launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida, as tropical storm Hermine bore down on the area. The Falcon 9 rocket was scheduled to launch an Israeli satellite providing Facebook broadband to Africa. |
| WATCH LIVE: SpaceX explosion at Cape Canaveral | |
| The blast shook buildings some distance away, according to witnesses who reported it on social media. Thick black smoke could be seen rising from the pad, while secondary explosions continued. | |
| There were no casualties from the explosion, and no threat to the general public, said the US Air Force's 45th Space Wing, which controls the Cape Canaveral launch station. | |
| Citing NASA security, one source reported that the rocket blew up during “wet dress rehearsal.” This is the type of pre-launch test that uses actual liquid propellant, but may or may not involve the payload. | Citing NASA security, one source reported that the rocket blew up during “wet dress rehearsal.” This is the type of pre-launch test that uses actual liquid propellant, but may or may not involve the payload. |
| Brevard County Emergency Management Office said there was no danger to the general public, and said the rocket exploded during "static test fire." | |
| SpaceX’s next launch was supposed to be on Saturday, September 3, with a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Israeli communications satellite Amos-6 into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). | SpaceX’s next launch was supposed to be on Saturday, September 3, with a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Israeli communications satellite Amos-6 into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). |
| The satellite would have provided broadband internet coverage to sub-Saharan Africa, as part of an initiative spearheaded by Facebook. | The satellite would have provided broadband internet coverage to sub-Saharan Africa, as part of an initiative spearheaded by Facebook. |
| Thursday's explosion did not involve a reused Falcon 9 booster. SpaceX announced on Tuesday that it would use a recovered rocket to launch a SES communications satellite "later this year," probably sometime in December. |