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SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket burst into flames after launch: Video

Sunday, 28 June 2015 6:07 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 28 June 2015 6:13 PM ]

SpaceX Falcon 9 unmanned rocket, carrying supplies for the International Space Station exploded shortly after launch on Sunday.

An unmanned SpaceX rocket, dubbed Falcon 9, broke apart a few minutes after its launch on Sunday and exploded into pieces.

The unmanned rocket was launched by NASA from Cape Canaveral, Florida and was carrying supplies for the International Space Station, as well as a new cutting-edge docking port.

The accident took place only two and half minutes into the launch when a white cloud of smoke started to billow from the rocket and then grew bigger.

A few seconds later, the rocket erupted and turned into small pieces that rained all over the area.

The rocket had a 5,200 lbs cargo and was travelling at 2,900 mph. The explosion occurred 27 miles into the sky.

Elon Musk, SpaceX founder and chief, took to his Twitter account shortly after the incident and blamed pressurization in the liquid-oxygen tank of the rocket as the main culprit.

The accident is a serious blow to NASA as it was its third failed shipment in eight months. The Falcon 9 was carrying the supplies that were lost in two previous failed attempts.

NASA top spaceflight official William Gerstenmaier told reporters that "This is a blow to us," pointing to the docking port, a new spacesuit and hours of research that were all lost in the explosion.

MTM/AGB

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