Kaboom! The moment Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket EXPLODED on the launch pad and destroyed Facebook's $200m internet satellite.
C'mon you gotta laugh, its about time Facebook lost a bit of money other than grossing Billions and Billions and evading taxes throughout the world. The people at SpaceX need a bottle of champers to celebrate their victory lol.
We don't care that it cost $200m, who gives a flying.... They can't even answer a simple message sent to them so you go round in circles.
Anyhoo, here's the official story for anyone whom gives a remote f**k?
This is the dramatic moment the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket suffered a catastrophic explosion on the Cape Canaveral launch pad during a routine pre-launch check on Thursday morning.
The blast, which shook buildings and windows miles away, occurred shortly after 9am and destroyed Facebook's $200million Amos-6 satellite that was set to launch on Saturday morning aboard the reusable rocket.
Billionaire SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said the cause of the massive blast - which caused no injuries - is still unknown as the accident throws into question the future of his program of subcontracting his 'reusable' and 'recycled' rockets to NASA.
The satellite would have opened up free internet to more than 14 countries in Africa to serve the most populated areas more efficiently.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who confirmed that the company's satellite was destroyed in the huge blast, called it 'deeply disappointing,' as he is currently visiting several countries on the continent and likely would have marked the occasion of the satellite launch there had it been successful.
The mishap dealt a severe blow to SpaceX, still scrambling to catch up with satellite deliveries following a launch accident last year. It's also a setback for NASA, which has been counting on the private company to keep the International Space Station stocked with supplies and, ultimately, astronauts.
The video, which appeared on US Launch Report, shows the blast appearing to originate near the second stage or inter stage area of the rocket before it sent the faring, or payload, toppling over onto the ground creating another explosion.
The test was in advance of Saturday's planned launch from from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, which is next to NASA's Kennedy Space Center, of an Israeli-made communications satellite that was supposed to provide home internet for Africa and the Middle East.
- 'SpaceX can confirm that in preparation for today's static fire, there was an anomaly on the pad resulting in the loss of the vehicle and its payload. Per standard procedure, the pad was clear and there were no injuries,' a SpaceX spokesman said.
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| SpaceX Rocket exploding |
No additional details were provided. It wasn't clear whether the rocket caused the problem or something else on the pad. The pad is normally cleared of workers before test firings.
The Brevard County Emergency Management Office said: 'There is NO threat to general public from catastrophic abort during static test fire at SpaceX launch pad at CCAFS this morning.'
Buildings several miles away shook from the blast, and multiple explosions continued for several minutes.
Dark smoke filled the overcast sky, and a half-hour later, a black cloud hung low across the eastern horizon.
It's the same kind of SpaceX rocket used to launch space station supplies for NASA.
NASA - SpaceX's major customer - said the explosion occurred at Launch Complex 40 at the Air Force station, and Kennedy emergency staff was on standby.
The initial blast sent next-door NASA employees rushing frantically outside to see what happened.
At first, it sounded like lightning, but was followed by the sounds of more explosions, then more and more.
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| Preparing to take off |
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| Something's not quite right |
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| Sabotage of the SpaceX Rocket |
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| Definitely something's wrong lol |
