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Unmanned SpaceX rocket explodes after Florida launch Unmanned SpaceX rocket explodes after Florida launch
(35 minutes later)
An unmanned SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket has exploded minutes after lift-off from Cape Canaveral in Florida.An unmanned SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket has exploded minutes after lift-off from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
The US company SpaceX's rocket, which broke up over the Atlantic, was supposed to send a cargo ship to the International Space Station (ISS).The US company SpaceX's rocket, which broke up over the Atlantic, was supposed to send a cargo ship to the International Space Station (ISS).
As well as carrying supplies for the astronauts, the rocket had also been transporting a new docking port.As well as carrying supplies for the astronauts, the rocket had also been transporting a new docking port.
It is the Falcon-9 rocket's first failure in 19 launches.It is the Falcon-9 rocket's first failure in 19 launches.
It was SpaceX's third failure at the manoeuvre - bids in January and April also failed.It was SpaceX's third failure at the manoeuvre - bids in January and April also failed.
Analysis: Jonathan Amos, BBC Science correspondentAnalysis: Jonathan Amos, BBC Science correspondent
Rockets are tremendously complex machines and every so often, they fail. SpaceX has built a reputation for being smart and fleet of foot, and most people would expect them to bounce back from this disappointment pretty quickly.Rockets are tremendously complex machines and every so often, they fail. SpaceX has built a reputation for being smart and fleet of foot, and most people would expect them to bounce back from this disappointment pretty quickly.
But the mission failure could present difficulties for America's plans to start launching its own astronauts back into space, which it hasn't done since 2011 when the shuttles were retired. But the mission failure does have consequences for the future running of the International Space Station.
Along with Boeing, SpaceX was selected by Nasa to develop a crew-launch system, due to begin service in about 2017. The SpaceX system would of course be based on its Falcon-9 rocket. It was already running its supplies at less than optimal levels. This was a consequence of launch failures on two other freighter systems - the US Cygnus ship and the Russian Progress craft.
Depending how long it takes engineers to isolate and rectify the cause of the problem, SpaceX's timeline to that first crew launch could also now be set back by many months. Before today the stores on the ISS were good until October. The Russians will now have another go at re-stocking the ISS next Friday and there will be an enormous amount riding on that flight as a result.
For the moment, the partner nations still plan to raise the current three-person crew to six in July. But they will surely keep that decision under review.
"The vehicle has broken up," said Nasa commentator George Diller, after Nasa television broadcast images of the white rocket falling to pieces."The vehicle has broken up," said Nasa commentator George Diller, after Nasa television broadcast images of the white rocket falling to pieces.
"We appear to have had a launch vehicle failure," Diller said."We appear to have had a launch vehicle failure," Diller said.
"At this point it is not clear to the launch team exactly what happened.""At this point it is not clear to the launch team exactly what happened."
The explosion happened a few moments into the flight.The explosion happened a few moments into the flight.
A SpaceX commentator reportedly suggested the vehicle had been able to to reach supersonic speed, but something had happened before the cargo ship was able to detach from the first stage of the rocket and reach orbit.A SpaceX commentator reportedly suggested the vehicle had been able to to reach supersonic speed, but something had happened before the cargo ship was able to detach from the first stage of the rocket and reach orbit.
Traditionally, launch vehicles are expendable. The different propellant stages of a rocket are dumped during the ascent to orbit and burn up on re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere.Traditionally, launch vehicles are expendable. The different propellant stages of a rocket are dumped during the ascent to orbit and burn up on re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere.
But SpaceX believes that if it can carefully return, refurbish and re-fly these stages instead, it could substantially reduce the cost of access to space.But SpaceX believes that if it can carefully return, refurbish and re-fly these stages instead, it could substantially reduce the cost of access to space.
Whether that turns out to be the case - only time will tell, says the BBC's science correspondent Jonathan Amos.Whether that turns out to be the case - only time will tell, says the BBC's science correspondent Jonathan Amos.
But successful, the recovery procedure has the potential to revolutionise today's rocketry, our correspondent says.But successful, the recovery procedure has the potential to revolutionise today's rocketry, our correspondent says.