SpaceX rocket booster tips over and appears to explode after launch off Florida’s coast

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket booster tipped over and seemingly exploded after successfully launching 21 Starlink satellites from Florida’s Space Coast early Wednesday morning.

Despite a delay in the Polaris Dawn mission early Wednesday, SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida’s Space Coast later that morning.

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The rocket, carrying 21 Starlink satellites, lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 3:48 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Watch the Falcon 9 rocket launch below:

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The deployment of these satellites will contribute to expanding SpaceX’s global high-speed internet network.

However, following the successful launch, the mission encountered an issue when the rocket’s first-stage booster tipped over after landing on its targeted droneship in the Atlantic Ocean.

Initial reports suggest the booster may have exploded upon impact.

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SpaceX confirmed on social media that this was the booster’s 23rd mission.

Teams are currently assessing the booster’s flight data to determine the cause of the incident.

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