There has been an explosion at the SpaceX launch site in Florida, shaking buildings and sending smoke billowing into the sky.
Elon Musk's firm was carrying out a routine test firing of its unmanned rocket at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station when the explosion happened.
The Falcon 9 rocket and its $200m satellite payload were destroyed.
SpaceX said no-one was injured in the blast, and blamed an "anomaly" on the launch pad for the explosion.
Update on this morning's anomaly pic.twitter.com/1ogCMPCY44
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 1, 2016
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 force of the explosion shook buildings several miles away, and a thick cloud of smoke was seen rising from the launch site.
The test was being carried out in advance of a planned Saturday launch from the site, which is next to NASA's Kennedy Space Centre.
Local officials have said there is no risk to the public:
There is NO threat to general public from catastrophic abort during static test fire at SpaceX launch pad at CCAFS this morning.
— Brevard EOC (@BrevardEOC) September 1, 2016
SpaceX is one of two companies shipping supplies to the International Space Station for NASA.
The company successfully launched a Falcon 9 last month, sending a Japanese communications satellite into orbit and then landing the rocket on a floating drone ship.
