SpaceX Founder Calls Rocket Explosion 'Most Difficult And Complex' In Its History
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
CAPE CANAVERAL (CBSMiami) — Elon Musk is asking for help pinpointing the source of an explosion that destroyed his SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
He says September 1st accident it is the "most difficult and complex failure" SpaceX has ever had in 14 years.
The Falcon rocket and a satellite were destroyed, and the pad was damaged.
Particularly puzzling, according to Musk, is "the quieter bang" heard right before the fireball. He says it may have come from the rocket or something else. The rocket engines had yet to fire as part of the test, and so there was no apparent heat source.
Musk tweeted to NASA, the U.S. Air Force and the FAA asking for their support and advice.
Support & advice from @NASA, @FAA, @AFPAA & others much appreciated. Please email any recordings of the event to report@spacex.com.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 9, 2016
SpaceX also tweeted asking for all audio, photos or video of the incident to help in the investigation.
If you have audio, photos or videos of our anomaly last week, please send to report@spacex.com. Material may be useful for investigation
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 9, 2016