Air Force Secures Cape Canaveral After SpaceX Falcon 9 Explosion

Cape Canaveral after SpaceX’s Sept. 1 rocket explosion. Photo: U.S. Air Force

[Via Satellite 09-02-2016] Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Emergency Operations personnel have secured the area surrounding Space Launch Complex 40 following the explosion of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket with the Spacecom Amos 6 satellite yesterday at 9:07a.m. The first responders quickly secured the area surrounding the pad and ensured there were no hazardous effects to the public.

Fire department personnel reported last night that the fire on the pad is now out. A team of Air Force experts from the 45th Space Wing Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), fire department and environmental health personnel held the perimeter of the launch complex in order to access the situation from a closer vantage point throughout the day. EOD airmen are trained to detect, dispose and render safe any possible explosive threats while environmental health personnel monitor the air quality to ensure it is safe for emergency responders and the general public.

SpaceX reported that the anomaly resulting in the loss of vehicle and payload originated around the upper stage oxygen tank. The anomaly occurred during a standard pre-launch static fire test specifically during propellant loading of the vehicle. Per standard safety operating procedure, all personnel were cleared of the complex at the time of the explosion and there were no personnel injuries.