AMOS-6 (Falcon 9)
3 September 2016
Space Launch Complex 40
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
The Affordable Modular Optimized Satellite (AMOS) - 6 satellite built by Spacecom in Israel was leased mainly by Facebook and Eutelsat to provide telecommunications coverage throughout Africa and parts of Europe. The satellite and its SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket were destroyed on 1 September 2016 during a pre-launch static fire test prior to the actual launch on 3 September. The launch site, Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, was also damaged as seen in the photos below.
The destruction of the Falcon 9 rocket with its AMOS-6 payload occurred at 9:07 a.m. on 1 September 2016. Smoke was still coming from the launch pad at 2:35 p.m. under cloudy and rainy skies as seen in this long distance view in the two images above.
Damage to Launch Complex 40 is evident in this view taken in the late afternoon of 8 September 2016. Note the mangled, fire blackened, strongback, the short tower at center, that elevated the rocket vertically to launch position and served as the gantry for fuel lines and other consumables going into the rocket and its payload.
A closer view of the strongback. Note the tall blackened tower at left that provides lightning protection to the pad.
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