A SpaceX rocket that was being prepared for a Saturday (3 September) launch has exploded on the pad: B.B.C.-link & A.P.-link. This is an unfortunate setback, but my first reaction is: These things happen. Rockets are powered by the barely-controlled combustion of highly volatile chemicals, designed to react in such a way that massive amounts of power are produced. Things only need to go every so slightly awry for those reactions to become uncontrolled explosions. This is literal rocket science, the very reason why "rocket science" is our culture's byword for an extremely difficult, mentally rigorous task.
I'm not a fan of Elon Musk & SpaceX, & my withering criticisms of the Obama Administration's mishandling of the space program are well documented, but have no doubt that this is just a bump in the road to the stars. SpaceX will continue to launch Falcon rockets, & either (or both) N.A.S.A. astronauts & civilian space tourists will one day be ferried to & from space by SpaceX rockets.
These sorts of mishaps are also why space-related posts are given the "Ad astra per aspera" label. The phrase is Latin, meaning, "To the stars through difficulties."
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