SpaceX's Falcon 9 explodes on Florida launch pad during rocket test

The Verge ^ | Sept 1 2016 | Loren Grush

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SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, meant to launch a satellite this weekend, exploded on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The explosion occurred during a static fire test of the rocket's engines, NASA told the Associated Press. The blast reportedly shook buildings "several miles away."

I hope everyone is OK at #SpaceX. pic.twitter.com/HFN5jiGDDf — Ian Dawson (@PointyEndUp) September 1, 2016

SpaceX was getting the Falcon 9 ready to launch the Amos 6 satellite, a communications probe for the Israeli satellite operator Spacecom. The mission was scheduled for 3AM ET Saturday morning. Prior to all launches, SpaceX conducts a static fire test, in which the rocket's engines are turned on while the vehicle is constrained. It's a routine procedure the company has done many times before.

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The 45th Space Wing, the US Air Force unit that commands the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, is responding to the explosion. "There are no known casualties. There's no threat to public safety and our emergency management teams are on site responding," Bryan Bryan Purtell, a representative for the 45th Space Wing, told The Verge. The unit will provide more updates soon.

It's possible that the Amos 6 satellite was not harmed during the explosion. The satellites aren't always loaded on top of the Falcon 9s during a static fire. But right now, the fate of the Amos 6 is unclear.

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Brevard County, Florida ping.

Let me know if you want on or off this low volume ping list.
(not associated with the county government)

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Another source: News 13

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[Caption: Sent via the News 13 app: Large plume of smoke over Cape Canaveral Air Force Station after an explosion was reported. There is no threat to the public, reports the Brevard EOC. (Rick, viewer)]

[BenLurkin]

Woe to you who are complacent in Zion,
and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria,
you notable men of the foremost nation,
to whom the people of Israel come!

[Revelation 911]

actually it doesn't look too - bad.....it should buff out

[RayChuang88]

I think a lot of people are surprised we don't see this happen more often. Especially when rocket fuel is HIGHLY explosive (as the Russians found out when their N1 rocket crashed back onto the launchpad and blew up with the force of an atomic artillery shell).

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New13 reports payload lost too

[Blood of Tyrants]

Just goes to show you that there is nothing routine about space flight.

[Phlap]

That shot is clearly miles away. Can you say Kaboom?

[Paal Gulli]

“Just goes to show you that there is nothing routine about space flight.”

Just goes to show you the folly of vertical launch (which Burt Rutan demonstrated the superior alternative to).

[DoughtyOne]

Sorry to hear of this.

Now that’s what I call ironing the kinks out...

[Gadsden1st]

Payload was Israel spy satellite. Lost.

Nothing to see here. Move along...

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weather radar picked up the explosion

[GraceG]

[ SpaceX was getting the Falcon 9 ready to launch the Amos 6 satellite, a communications probe for the Israeli satellite operator Spacecom. ]

Maybe it was the Mooselim outreach program NASA Touts...

[DoughtyOne]

I sure hate to see this. They’ve had pretty good success so far and I am very much in favor of seeing that extended.

Space exploration hasn’t ever been a straight line process. Failures have been a part of it. They will probably continue to be, although I sure hope they are very few and far between.

[VanDeKoik]

Sabotage isnt too far off of a reason.

But this really doesn’t put a lot of confidence in the private space industry in the minds of investors.

[plain talk]

"Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. As the first rocket completely developed in the 21st century, Falcon 9 was designed from the ground up for maximum reliability. "

[DiogenesLamp]

Just goes to show you that there is nothing routine about space flight.

I find it suspicious that the very first launch pad explosion happened to be carrying an Israeli satellite.

SpaceX had gone a long way to demonstrating routine space flight, and this is a peculiar anomaly.

[marshmallow]

Is it just my impression or does Space X stuff frequently malfunction? Seems like they've had lots of problems with their rockets in the past.