A satellite destined to provide internet access to the populations of sub-Saharan Africa has exploded during a pre-launch test, dealing a blow to both social media giant Facebook and maverick aerospace agency SpaceX.

The Amos-6 satellite it carried was part of a Facebook-led project, called internet.org, to bring affordable internet to less-developed countries and stimulate development.

The explosion occurred during a rocket fire test of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle – the same automated technology SpaceX recently successfully launched into orbit, then returned to earth to land on a floating barge – and culminated in the total destruction of the rocket and its payload; a US$200 million Israeli-built satellite.

SpaceX has confirmed the explosion was the result of “an anomaly on the pad”, and that “per standard procedure, the pad was clear and there were no injuries”.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was “deeply disappointed” at the turn of events, but said he and the company “remain committed to our mission of connecting everyone, and we will keep working until everyone has the opportunities this satellite would have provided”.

See the explosive result of the “anomaly” below:

If you add the cost of development and construction of the Falcon 9 rocket, plus the cost to launch (US$62 million), the disaster could easily pose a setback of around US$500 million.

Affordable internet with a caveat

While many have applauded the philanthropic nature of internet.org –along with similar projects, such as Google’s Project Loon – the exact nature and provisioning of the access given has led to some questions.

Critics have raised concerns about Facebook controlling access to information without restrictions, while others have highlighted the exclusion of Facebook competitors in the project.

The Amos-9 satellite is just one component in a network of systems being developed for internet.org by Facebook’s Connectivity Lab. The company is also building long-range, solar-powered drones which can remain airborne for several months at a time, providing connectivity for inhabitants below.

A blow for SpaceX

The reality of constructing, testing and launching space-bound vehicles fraught with risk and danger and engineers must achieve incredible feats of function on dwindling budgets.

On a 2011 visit to ACMI, in Melbourne, NASA Mission Specialist and Flight Engineer, Rex J. Walheim, candidly told the audience: “It’s not until you’re in the cockpit, ready to launch, that you realise you’re sitting on three tonnes of rocket built by the lowest bidder”.

Regardless of the cause of the “anomaly” that led to the explosion, when it comes to space launch vehicles, there is no such thing as a small fault.

One fault in one system invariably triggers a chain reaction of increasing severity. By the time Mission Control become aware of the first fault – which is usually within seconds of a component failing – it may be too late.

Despite the fault being attributed to external causes, the explosion represents another miss-step on SpaceX’s path to glory.

In June 2015, a SpaceX CRS-7 cargo rocket loaded with supplies for the International Space Station disintegrated a few minutes after launch, throwing more heat on the debate about the privatisation of space.

Despite support from NASA, as SpaceX prepares to unveil further plans for its missions to Mars, the question is now whether the two companies are actually capable of launching a crew to the red planet by 2024.