USLaunchReport releases stunning video of Falcon 9 explosion
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — USLaunchReport has released shocking video of the Sept. 1, 2016, explosion that resulted in the complete loss of the SpaceX Falcon 9 Full Thrust rocket carrying the Amos-6 satellite. The accident took place at 9:07 a.m. EDT (13:07 GMT) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 in Florida.
USLaunchReport, a veteran-owned outlet focused primarily on video of space-related events, released the video a few hours after this morning’s accident.
Video courtesy USLaunchReport
Jason Rhian
Jason Rhian spent several years honing his skills with internships at NASA, the National Space Society and other organizations. He has provided content for outlets such as: Aviation Week & Space Technology, Space.com, The Mars Society and Universe Today.
It *looked* like the explosion originated between the top of the second stage and the bottom of the payload fairing; not even close to a first stage engine issue. Definitely want to see what this turns out to be…
Re: SpaceX launchpad explosion video 1/9/16. What was that object, that looked like a high-speed cannon ball, which passed right to left and was directly above the rocket when it exploded?
If one pays attention to the earliest frames, the distinct diffraction spikes seem to point to a source near the umbilical connection to the second stage. Only after that initial burst does the second stage appear to burst in a much larger explosion.
It certainly does look like a high speed object appears on the video coming from left to right and maybe hitting the vehicle at or near the point of initial explosion?? Maybe just a coincidence!!!
Ive been doing consulting and design work for CCTV for 20 years, have looked at loads of video for over 35. That looks more like something local to the camera, not the rocket. Debris in wind, insect etc. looks fast because it’s close to the lens. Shapes looked too defined at that distance. You would just see more of a blob or blur near the rocket.