But there are questions as to why the Amos-6 satellite was even attached to the Falcon 9 rocket during the engine test Thursday.
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JERUSALEM, Sept 4 Israeli satellite operator Space Communications said on Sunday it was working on an amended deal to be acquired by Beijing Xinwei Technology Group after a Spacecom communications satellite was destroyed last week.
As reported by JOL news, an emergency meeting of the Israeli space industry officials convened to discuss the implications following the explosion of satellite Amos-6 at the launch site in Florida.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Air Force unit that commands the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station asked residents via Twitter on Friday to report any debris they find from Thursday morning’s explosion.
The cause is unknown and has been put down to “an anomaly” by the satellite’s owner, Elon Musk’s SpaceX company.
That’s because the Dragon space capsule, which SpaceX plans to use for manned flights as soon as next year, has eight escape rockets built into its walls created to lift astronauts out of harm’s way if the Falcon rocket below it is destroyed.
SpaceX is developing rockets that could be landed upright and reused, and won a NASA contract to fly US astronauts to the International Space Station in the future. Dark smoke filled the overcast sky.
The mishap dealt a severe blow to SpaceX, still scrambling to catch up with satellite deliveries following a launch accident a year ago. The rocket was still standing, although the top third or so was clearly bent over.
“We remain confident in our commercial partners and firmly stand behind the successful 21st century launch complex that NASA, other federal agencies, and USA commercial companies are building on Florida’s Space Coast”, the statement reads. Moments later, the payload nose cone plunged to the ground, followed by more explosions. At the same time, personnel were monitoring the air for any toxic fumes. The Amos-6 satellite was to become the first in the social networking giant’s project to spread internet to the developing world. The space station is well stocked and able to weather any potential delays to upcoming SpaceX deliveries, NASA said. It’s also working on a crew capsule to ferry station USA astronauts; that first flight was supposed to come as early as next year. Mission Control did not notify them of the accident, saying all communication was focused on the spacewalk. NASA is a major customer, relying on SpaceX to send supplies to the space station and return science experiments. The rockets can launch the capsule 100 meters away from the rocket in just two seconds, and a half-kilometer away within five seconds.
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By late 2017, SpaceX is expected to receive flight readiness certification from NASA for those manned flights.
