This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/viral/357920-spacex-amos-satellite-explosion/
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Inside the $200mn AMOS-6 satellite destroyed during SpaceX rocket explosion (VIDEO, PHOTOS) | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Facebook’s controversial efforts to bring internet access to the developing world are now on hold, after the $200mn Israeli satellite it hoped to use was destroyed during Thursday’s explosion of a SpaceX rocket in Cape Canaveral, Florida. | Facebook’s controversial efforts to bring internet access to the developing world are now on hold, after the $200mn Israeli satellite it hoped to use was destroyed during Thursday’s explosion of a SpaceX rocket in Cape Canaveral, Florida. |
READ MORE: Facebook satellite lost in SpaceX explosion at Cape Canaveral (VIDEO) | READ MORE: Facebook satellite lost in SpaceX explosion at Cape Canaveral (VIDEO) |
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket exploded during a pre-launch “static fire test,” destroying the AMOS-6 satellite along with it. | SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket exploded during a pre-launch “static fire test,” destroying the AMOS-6 satellite along with it. |
A number of different players from around the world had a stake in the communication satellite’s launch, scheduled for this Saturday. | A number of different players from around the world had a stake in the communication satellite’s launch, scheduled for this Saturday. |
AMOS-6 was part of a partnership between the social media giant and French satellite operator Eutelsat worth $95 million, which was supposed to pay for the lease of “Ka-band spot-beam broadband capacity” with "18 gigabits per second of throughput," according to Space News. | AMOS-6 was part of a partnership between the social media giant and French satellite operator Eutelsat worth $95 million, which was supposed to pay for the lease of “Ka-band spot-beam broadband capacity” with "18 gigabits per second of throughput," according to Space News. |
Eutelsat claim the explosion will impact on it's business worth as much as $56m to 2019. | Eutelsat claim the explosion will impact on it's business worth as much as $56m to 2019. |
The satellite was built by Israel Aerospace Industries, which last week agreed to a $285m buy-out from China’s Beijing Xinwei Technology Group, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. | The satellite was built by Israel Aerospace Industries, which last week agreed to a $285m buy-out from China’s Beijing Xinwei Technology Group, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. |
If the sale is successful, the Chinese conglomerate will take on the Israeli company’s debt of 1.478b shekels ($390m). | If the sale is successful, the Chinese conglomerate will take on the Israeli company’s debt of 1.478b shekels ($390m). |
Spacecom estimated the cost of launching, insuring, and operating AMOS-6 for one year would be $85m. | Spacecom estimated the cost of launching, insuring, and operating AMOS-6 for one year would be $85m. |
SpaceX confirmed the payload was on board the Falcon 9 during the pre-launch test when the explosion occurred. | SpaceX confirmed the payload was on board the Falcon 9 during the pre-launch test when the explosion occurred. |
The incident has been attributed to an “anomaly” on the launch pad, rather than a problem with the rocket. | The incident has been attributed to an “anomaly” on the launch pad, rather than a problem with the rocket. |
Last year, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the tech giant would deliver internet from space through the Internet.org initiative. | Last year, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the tech giant would deliver internet from space through the Internet.org initiative. |
However, critics have accused the plan of violating the principles of net neutrality and favoring Facebook-approved websites. | However, critics have accused the plan of violating the principles of net neutrality and favoring Facebook-approved websites. |
The satellite was due to launch on September 3, to a geostationary orbit that would have covered large parts of sub-Saharan Africa. | The satellite was due to launch on September 3, to a geostationary orbit that would have covered large parts of sub-Saharan Africa. |
Internet.org has experimented with providing internet access through the use of new technologies, including solar-powered drones that act as wireless routers for months at a time. | Internet.org has experimented with providing internet access through the use of new technologies, including solar-powered drones that act as wireless routers for months at a time. |
AMOS-6 was intended to act like a router in the sky over sub-Saharan Africa, beaming internet access down into communities from above. | AMOS-6 was intended to act like a router in the sky over sub-Saharan Africa, beaming internet access down into communities from above. |
READ MORE: 5 spectacular SpaceX rocket fails, from launches to landings (VIDEO) | READ MORE: 5 spectacular SpaceX rocket fails, from launches to landings (VIDEO) |