News
Space X rocket explodes during test flight
Aug. 25, 2014, McGregor, Tx. - An unmanned SpaceX rocket self-destructed shortly after launching on a test flight at a Central Texas development site, the company said Friday.
August 25, 2014 By The Associated Press
Nobody was injured in the afternoon explosion at the test site in McGregor, Texas, 23 miles southeast of Waco.
The test flight involved a three-engine version of the
company's reusable Falcon 9 rocket, spokesman John Taylor said in a
statement. "During the flight, an anomaly was detected in the vehicle
and the flight termination system automatically terminated the mission,"
he said.
"Throughout the test and subsequent flight
termination, the vehicle remained in the designated flight area. There
were no injuries or near injuries," he said.
A representative of the Federal Aviation Administration was present for the flight.
The company offered no further details on the nature of the "anomaly."
"With research and development
projects, detecting vehicle anomalies during the testing is the purpose
of the program. Today's test was particularly complex, pushing the
limits of the vehicle further than any previous test," Taylor said.
SpaceX will review the flight record to learn more about the rocket's performance before its next test flight, he said.
SpaceX has been using the Falcon 9 to
launch satellites and the Dragon spacecraft, which delivers cargo to
the International Space Station.
