Space X explosion at Cape Canaveral

A large explosion took place on September 1, 2016 at a SpaceX launch pad – Launch Complex 40 – at Cape Canaveral, Florida. SpaceX was refueling its Falcon 9 rocket in preparation for a planned launch this weekend and called the explosion an “anomaly on the pad.” The explosion occurred shortly after 9 a.m. ET Thursday (1300 UTC). The explosion shook buildings up to five miles away, according to various sources.

The Falcon 9 explosion destroyed the Israeli commercial communications satellite, which was set to launch Saturday at midnight and which, according to the Orlando Sentinel, was Facebook’s next step toward provide Internet service to poorly connected areas in the Middle East, parts of Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said:

After the explosion, radar showed a large plume of smoke spreading out toward the ocean.

That is a large smoke plume spreading out from #falcon9 explosion on MLB dual pol radar (correlation coefficient) pic.twitter.com/uyXM5v7woS

— Kyle Gravlin (@kylegravlin) September 1, 2016

Soon after the explosion occurred, reports began coming in of smaller, secondary explosions.

Witnesses describe seeing 2 explosions. First one around 9am.. Second around 9:20am @WESH pic.twitter.com/u6jqewZ2GZ

— Chris Hush (@ChrisHushWESH) September 1, 2016

"You felt a shockwave from the blast." – @DanBillowWESH on feeling explosion at home.

— Alyssa Elias (@ProducerElias) September 1, 2016

SpaceX was founded by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who explained on Twitter:

Loss of Falcon vehicle today during propellant fill operation. Originated around upper stage oxygen tank. Cause still unknown. More soon.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 1, 2016

A SpaceX spokesperson also confirmed there were no injuries in the blast.

@SpaceX Dir. of Communications: "There was an anomaly on the pad resulting in the loss of the vehicle" @WESH pic.twitter.com/2mvxNwBjBo

— Chris Hush (@ChrisHushWESH) September 1, 2016

Pictures of explosion at @SpaceX launch pad from viewers: @WESH pic.twitter.com/DuLbnyb7mG

— Chris Hush (@ChrisHushWESH) September 1, 2016

NASA says SpaceX was conducting a test firing of its unmanned rocket when the blast occurred Thursday morning. pic.twitter.com/Bc7kNiq6E0

— WESH 2 News (@WESH) September 1, 2016

Bottom line: Explosion at Space X launch site, September 1, 2016.