MCGREGOR, Texas: An unmanned SpaceX rocket exploded shortly after launch on a test flight at the company’s Texas development site.
A SpaceX statement said nobody was injured in the Friday afternoon explosion.
SpaceX spokesman John Taylor says the test flight involved a three-engine version of its reusable Falcon 9 rocket. He said an “anomaly” was detected in the rocket and it automatically self-destructed.
He says the vehicle remained within its designated flight area throughout and a representative of the Federal Aviation Administration was present.
The company is offering no further details on the nature of the “anomaly,” but Taylor says SpaceX will review the flight record to learn more about the rocket’s performance before its next test flight.--AFP