US: Explosion hits SpaceX rocket launch site

Company was test-firing rocket ahead of launch this weekend

NEW YORK (AA) – No injuries have been reported after an explosion took place early Thursday at a launch pad in Florida where SpaceX was preparing a rocket for a weekend launch.

A large plume of dark smoke rose above the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station after the blast, video footage and radar images showed.

A space reporter Robin Seemangal, tweeted confirmation of the loss of a rocket: "@SpaceX has confirmed to me: 'loss of the vehicle and its payload'.

The emergency management office of Brevard County, where the complex is located, issued a statement saying there was "no threat to general public" from the explosion.

SpaceX was conducting a routine test-firing of a rocket ahead of its launch slated for Saturday to take a satellite into orbit, NASA officials told The Associated Press.

The California-based company, founded by Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, is recognized for its vision of proliferating reusable rockets and offering affordable private space travel.

In April, SpaceX successfully landed a reusable Falcon-9 rocket booster for the first time on a drone ship off the Florida coast.

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