SpaceX Rocket Explodes During Test Firing At Cape Canaveral, Florida
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A massive explosion on Thursday destroyed a SpaceX rocket and a satellite aboard during a routine test in Florida for a weekend launch.
As CBS2's Dave Carlin reported, the accident is sparking uncertainty for the future of space exploration.
SpaceX was conducting a test firing of its unmanned Falcon rocket when the blast occurred Thursday morning.
The test, considered routine, was in advance of a planned Saturday launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, which is next to NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The rocket was supposed to hoist an Israeli communications satellite.
The rocket and its payload were destroyed.
Facebook had planned to use the satellite to expand Internet access into Africa.
"It was a major loss for the owner of the Amos-6 satellite onboard," said CBS News Space Consultant Bill Harwood. "That was a $195 million dollar satellite that was destroyed."
SpaceX released a statement saying there was an anomaly on the pad resulting in the loss of the vehicle and its payload. It went on to say there were no injuries.
The blast was felt miles away. A cloud of dark smoke filled the overcast sky and sirens could be heard in the aftermath.
The Falcon 9 had problems before. One rocket exploded shortly after liftoff in 2015 and another experienced a failed landing earlier this year.
SpaceX is a critical partner for NASA. It carries supplies and equipment to the International Space Station.
"NASA has a $1.6 billion contract with SpaceX to launch dragon cargo ships to International Space Station," Harwood said.
SpaceX said the reusable Falcon 9 rocket, along with the Dragon Spacecraft, are designed to transport humans into space. Those flights were scheduled for next year.
It was unclear late Thursday how the explosion would affect the flight schedule.
The next flight to the International Space Station was scheduled for November.
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