The Amos 6 rocket. Photo Twitter screenshot.

JNS.org – A rocket being tested by the Elon Musk-owned aerospace company SpaceX was destroyed in a launch-pad explosion in Florida on Thursday, along with an Israeli communications satellite the rocket was carrying on board. No immediate injuries were reported.

SpaceX was conducting a routine test of the unmanned rocket Falcon 9. The rocket was carrying an Israeli satellite, the AMOS-6, which was intended to deliver Internet services to developing countries through Facebook’s Internet.org program. It would have been the first Facebook satellite to enter orbit.

The Amos 6 satellite was built by Israel Aerospace Industries and operated by the Israeli company, Spacecom, which partnered with France’s Eutelsat Communications. It was supposed to ride a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket into orbit on Saturday.