(Bloomberg) -- A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket exploded in Florida, marking the second loss of a spacecraft by Elon Musk’s venture in a little more than a year and hobbling an effort by Facebook Inc. to spread internet access in Africa.
The incident occurred Thursday at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40 as SpaceX prepared for Saturday’s launch of Amos-6, an Israeli communications satellite. The explosion happened as the rocket was being fueled before a test of its engines. Both the Falcon 9 rocket and the satellite were destroyed.
“Loss of Falcon vehicle today during propellant fill operation,” Musk said in a tweet. “Originated around upper stage oxygen tank. Cause still unknown. More soon.”
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