The launch pad explosion at SpaceX’s facility in Cape Canveral on September 1 has had a major impact on both the launch facility as well as the owner of the satellite.
According to Reuters, a Spacecom official said it could seek $50 million from SpaceX, or a free flight for another satellite. The official also said it could collect $205 million from the satellite’s manufacturer.
Spacecom was in talks for a merger with Beijing Xinwei Technology Group, but that has now been put on hold.
Whilst the cause of the explosion is under investigation, the loss of the satellite also means that Facebook’s plan to provide Internet services to Africa have also been delayed. Africa lacks modern terrestrial infrastructure and in some regions the only way to provide Internet connectivity is through satellite.
A statement issued by SpaceX reads: “We will continue to provide regular updates on our progress and findings, to the fullest extent we can share publicly. SpaceX’s business is robust, with approximately 70 missions on our manifest worth over $10 billion.”
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