NASA is also reassuring that the launch of the Osiris-Rex – scheduled to launch on September 8 – remains in place after initial assessments show the SpaceX explosion, which was 1.1 miles away, did not do any damage. The office tweeted, “There is NO threat to general public from catastrophic abort during static test fire at SpaceX launch pad at [Cape Canaveral] this morning”.
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Facebook had planned to use some of the satellite’s capacity to expand its Internet.org initiative in Africa.
SpaceX had been due to launch its 29th Falcon 9 rocket, which carries a list price of $62 million, before dawn on Saturday, carrying the Spacecom-owned AMOS-6. He said Facebook has already developed other technologies, like a fleet of solar-powered aircraft called Aquila, to bring the internet to more regions. Officials at the time said range safety officers sent a destruct signal to the rocket after it appeared to break up during flight. The pad had been cleared of workers before what was supposed to be a routine pre-launch rocket engine test. The Falcon 9 rocket and its payload, the Amos 6 communications satellite, were destroyed.
Mark Zuckerberg in Kenya still, is committed to providing an internet connection to every person in the world.
The good news is that Spacecom reportedly purchased insurance on behalf of Eutelsat and Facebook covering project-related risks including the satellite’s launch and first year of orbit. “This is an important part of his vision for providing internet access around the globe and while this may set back the timing, it will not derail his plans or vision”. Most of the rocket was still standing, although the top third or so was clearly bent over.
An explosion occurred during a SpaceX fueling operation at its launch site in Florida around 9:07 a.m.
SpaceX also has leased one of the old space shuttle launch pads at the Kennedy Space Center, adjacent to SpaceX’s current launch site.
The latter was the first customer that signed with SpaceX to launch such an instrument with a reusable rocket.
In addition to launching satellites, SpaceX is one of two companies shipping cargo to the International Space Station commercially, and one of two companies preparing to launch astronauts to the space station under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
The AMOS-6 communications satellite, which according to its manufacturer was the “largest and most advanced communications satellite ever built in Israel”, was also the device that Facebook hoped would allow them to provide internet access to remotes parts of sub-Saharan Africa, where internet access is spotty or non-existent. The space station is well stocked and able to weather any potential delays to upcoming SpaceX deliveries, NASA said.
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This one’s different, trust us. “But at the end of the day, I’m confident that our commercial space industry will be very successful”, Nelson said in a statement.
