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As it happenedended

SpaceX launch live blog: Latest updates as Falcon 9 rocket set to explode

Elon Musk says dramatic abort test will see Falcon 9 rocket 'destroyed in Dragon fire'

Anthony Cuthbertson
Sunday 19 January 2020 12:04 GMT
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SpaceX rocket explodes mid-flight in astronaut 'abort test'

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SpaceX has launched and exploded a 500-tonne rocket in mid-air as part of the last major safety test before sending astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).

The In-Flight Abort Test saw the Falcon 9 rocket experience a planned "rapid, unscheduled disassembly" shortly after take-off.

The launch was originally planned for Saturday but was postponed until Sunday due to adverse weather conditions.

Sunday's launch was delayed three separate times but a six-hour launch window allowed it to eventually lift-off at 10.30am ET (3.30pm GMT).

Please allow a moment for the liveblog to load.

anthony.cuthbertson19 January 2020 15:31

Crew Dragon has successfully separated from Falcon 9.

anthony.cuthbertson19 January 2020 15:33

And Falcon 9 has exploded!

anthony.cuthbertson19 January 2020 15:33

anthony.cuthbertson19 January 2020 15:34

Everything so far going exactly as planned. Big cheers from SpaceX and Nasa engineers when Crew Dragon successfully separated. 

More cheers now as the parachutes deploy.

anthony.cuthbertson19 January 2020 15:35

Here's how the parachutes look from inside the Crew Dragon capsule.

anthony.cuthbertson19 January 2020 15:37

Crew Dragon is below 500m altitude, and roughly 32km off-shore.

anthony.cuthbertson19 January 2020 15:38

We're about a minute away from splashdown.

anthony.cuthbertson19 January 2020 15:38

The Crew Dragon capsule splashes down safely and the recovery boat is already on its way.

anthony.cuthbertson19 January 2020 15:43

Apart from the delays, everything appears to have gone exactly as planned today.

Here's the successful lift-off: 

anthony.cuthbertson19 January 2020 15:48

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