SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Explodes On Launch Pad At Cape Canaveral

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has exploded this morning at its launch pad at Cape Canaveral. Photos began appearing Thursday morning of a huge plume of smoke rising from the pad. The launch pad was clear and no injuries were reported.

CBS News reports:

NASA says SpaceX was conducting a test firing of its unmanned rocket when the blast occurred Thursday morning. The test, considered routine, was in advance of a planned Saturday launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

“It appears … the entire rocket exploded,” a source told CBS News space consultant William Harwood.

There is NO threat to general public from catastrophic abort during static test fire at SpaceX launch pad at CCAFS this morning.

— Brevard EOC (@BrevardEOC) September 1, 2016

The rocket was set to launch on Saturday carrying a satellite owned by Facebook that was the company’s first step in providing Internet to poor, disconnected areas of sub-Saharan Africa.