A major SpaceX explosion seems to have just destroyed Facebook's first-ever satellite
AMOS-6, a project of Facebook's Internet.org program, was built to deliver internet to the developing world. It was intended to ride a SpaceX Falcon 9 into orbit this Saturday, and would have been the first satellite the internet giant put in orbit. The rocket on the launchpad when an explosion rocked Cape Canaveral, Florida Thursday was a Falcon 9.
Ars Technica reporter Eric Berger tweeted that the explosion was the result of a launch pad anomaly, not a problem with the rocket - and that AMOS-6 was on board.
So per @SpaceX, the issue was not with the rocket itself, but a pad anomaly. Bad news is that the payload (Amos 6 satellite) was lost.
- Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) September 1, 2016
SpaceX confirmed that both the rocket and its payload were lost.
AMOS-6 would have provided internet coverage to Sub-Saharan Africa.
Here's an image of the blast site:
WFTV9 screenshot
Here's Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook post announcing AMOS-6 last year:
- I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
- Saudi Arabia wants China to help fund its struggling $500 billion Neom megaproject. Investors may not be too excited.
- Colon cancer rates are rising in young people. If you have two symptoms you should get a colonoscopy, a GI oncologist says.
- Catan adds climate change to the latest edition of the world-famous board game
- Tired of blatant misinformation in the media? This video game can help you and your family fight fake news!
- Tired of blatant misinformation in the media? This video game can help you and your family fight fake news!
- JNK India IPO allotment – How to check allotment, GMP, listing date and more
- Indian Army unveils selfie point at Hombotingla Pass ahead of 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas