SpaceX Photos/FlickrA Falcon 9 rocket booster landing itself on a drone ship at sea.This morning, SpaceX was allegedly scheduled to do a static test-fire of a rocket it had previously launched and landed on April 8, 2016.
That booster, part of a 229-foot-tall Falcon 9 rocket, was supposed to carry the SES-10 satellite into orbit later this year.
But eyewitnesses on Twitter are reporting that test has ended in calamity on a launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida: with a huge explosion that rocked nearby buildings with its force.
Wow, SpaceX rocket just blew up on pad. Shook our whole bldg. pic.twitter.com/PMxZA4v4IV
— SpaceCoastTiger (@TigernBear) September 1, 2016
@murphypak @SpaceX @NASASpaceflight @CwG_NSF felt it at work too…static fire was scheduled…
— Julia Bergeron (@julia_bergeron) September 1, 2016
The rocket is currently in flames. Staffers at the facility are telling me. Plumes of smoke rising from Launch Complex.
— Robin Seemangal (@nova_road) September 1, 2016
Business Insider has contacted SpaceX for more details, but the aerospace company did not immediately respond.
It’s unknown at this time if anyone was hirt by the blast, which occurred sometime after 9 a.m. EDT on Thursday, Sept. 1.
Keep checking this page; we’ll update it as soon as we learn more.
NOW WATCH: Watch the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket land upright and make history
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