Rocket blast fries Facebook satellite
AN UNMANNED SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket exploded on the launch pad during a test in Florida on Thursday, destroying a satellite that Facebook planned to use to beam highspeed internet to Africa.
The blast at Cape Canaveral – though it caused no injuries – marks a setback for the California-based private space firm and its founder, internet entrepreneur Elon Musk, who wants to revolutionise the launch industry by making rocket components reusable.
“Loss of Falcon vehicle today during propellant fill operation,” Musk tweeted.
“Originated around upper stage oxygen tank. Cause still unknown. More soon.”
Dramatic footage showed the rocket burst into a roaring ball of flame amid what appeared to be a succession of blasts – sending its payload tumbling to the ground as a dense plume of black smoke filled the air.
The explosion destroyed the Israeli communications satellite that the Falcon 9 was due to deliver into orbit on Saturday – drawing a dismayed reaction from Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg.
“As I’m here in Africa, I’m deeply disappointed to hear that SpaceX’s launch failure destroyed our satellite that would have provided connectivity to so many entrepreneurs and everyone else across the continent,” Zuckerberg said on his Facebook page.
I’M DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT SPACEX’S LAUNCH FAILURE DESTROYED OUR SATELLITE THAT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED CONNECTIVITY TO SO MANY FACEBOOK CHIEF MARK ZUCKERBERG