An unmanned SpaceX rocket exploded less than three minutes after liftoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida on Sunday, in the first major disaster for the fast-charging company headed by Internet tycoon Elon Musk.
Skies were sunny and clear for the 10.21am (1421 GMT) launch of the gleaming white Falcon 9 rocket that was meant to propel the Dragon cargo ship to the International Space Station on a routine supply mission, the seventh for SpaceX so far.
But two minutes, 19 seconds into the flight, contact was lost. Live television images from SpaceX's webcast and Nasa television showed a huge puff of smoke billowing outward, then tiny bits of the rocket falling like confetti against a backdrop of blue sky.
Reacting to the development, a Nasa official said it "was a blow to us. We lost a lot of research equipment on this flight."
Blow to Nasa as SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket explodes shortly after lift off in Florida - The Times of India
Skies were sunny and clear for the 10.21am (1421 GMT) launch of the gleaming white Falcon 9 rocket that was meant to propel the Dragon cargo ship to the International Space Station on a routine supply mission, the seventh for SpaceX so far.
But two minutes, 19 seconds into the flight, contact was lost. Live television images from SpaceX's webcast and Nasa television showed a huge puff of smoke billowing outward, then tiny bits of the rocket falling like confetti against a backdrop of blue sky.
Reacting to the development, a Nasa official said it "was a blow to us. We lost a lot of research equipment on this flight."
Blow to Nasa as SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket explodes shortly after lift off in Florida - The Times of India
