SpaceX explosion destroys Mark Zuckerberg’s plans to build out internet connectivity
A SpaceX rocket exploded during a test-fire ahead of its launch, destroying Facebook’s communications satellite that was designed to deliver broadband internet coverage in sub-Saharan Africa.
SpaceX explosion
The explosion was referred to as an “anomaly” by SpaceX engineers, with chief executive Elon Musk tweeting that the “cause still unknown” the afternoon after the attack.
Loss of Falcon vehicle today during propellant fill operation. Originated around upper stage oxygen tank. Cause still unknown. More soon.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 1, 2016
The rocket's payload, an Israeli-built communications satellite for Facebook due to launch on Saturday, was destroyed in the explosion.
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg wrote that he was “deeply disappointed” by the loss of the satellite, which was integral to his plans to provide more connectivity in hard-to-reach parts of the world as part of his Internet.org initiative.
On his Facebook page Zuckerberg wrote: “As I'm here in Africa, I'm deeply disappointed to hear that SpaceX's launch failure destroyed our satellite that would have provided connectivity to so many entrepreneurs and everyone else across the continent.
Fortunately, we have developed other technologies like Aquila that will connect people as well. We remain committed to our mission of connecting everyone, and we will keep working until everyone has the opportunities this satellite would have provided.”
Facebook first announced its plans to launch a satellite to provide internet access to remote parts of Africa in October 2015, at which time Zuckerberg said: “I'm excited to announce our first project to deliver internet from space. As part of our Internet.org efforts to connect the world, we're partnering with Eutelsat to launch a satellite into orbit that will connect millions of people.
“We're going to work with local partners across these regions to help communities begin accessing internet services provided through satellite. This is just one of the innovations we're working on to achieve our mission with Internet.org.”
While the explosion is expected to have huge financial implications for both SpaceX and Facebook, with the now-defunct satellite costing $200m to develop, Zuckerberg told Facebook users: “The problem isn’t the money; it's that now it may take longer to connect people.”
The destruction of the satellite is not the first roadblock in Zuckerberg’s plans to dominate internet access globally. Earlier this year Facebook’s Free Basics scheme in India was thwarted by the country’s telecoms regulator for opposing net neutrality.
More than a million people registered complaints about the plan, arguing it would give prominence to certain websites and news sources chosen by Facebook. They claimed it would also give Facebook unchallenged control over the information.
While Zuckerberg lamented the blocking of his internet plans, the social media giant is readying a new paid-for scheme to appease net neutrality protestors, while quietly rolling out Free Basics in other regions of the world.