A SpaceX rocket exploded at a Cape Canaveral launch site, sending thick plumes of dark smoke into the sky.
The BBC said the blast occurred where “the aerospace company SpaceX was readying an unmanned rocket for launch.”
Pictures and videos of the scene showed large plumes of black smoke rising from the launch site. According to BBC, “Nasa said SpaceX was test-firing a rocket which was due to take a satellite into space this weekend.”
You can watch live streaming of the launch site.
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You can also access the live feeds at Kennedy Space Center here.
Watch the moment the rocket exploded here.
Tech Crunch said the rocket was supposed to launch a satellite for Facebook. “SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket just exploded while resting on a launch pad at Cape Canaveral. This rocket was set to launch on Saturday, September 3 on a mission to deliver Facebook’s first satellite to orbit. The status of the payload is unknown at this time,” said the tech site.
Buildings shook several miles away from the blast, the BBC said, and, on Twitter, people reported that secondary explosions were also occurring.
The Associated Press said the explosion occurred around 9 a.m. on September 1 during a “routine test” at Cape Canaveral, which is near Kennedy Space Center.
The AP said there was no immediate word about whether anyone was injured, but add that the launch pad is usually cleared before such tests.
Kennedy Space Center said a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was scheduled to launch at 3 a.m. on September 3 “from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station carrying the AMOS-6 communications satellite for Spacecom of Israel. This satellite supports existing services in the Ku- and Ka-band for the Middle East, Europe and sub-Sahara Africa.”
