Space X Rocket Explodes After Liftoff

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — An unmanned SpaceX rocket carrying supplies to the International Space Station has broken apart after being launched.

The accident occurred about 2 1/2 minutes into the flight from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Pieces could be seen falling into the Atlantic.

More than 5,200 pounds of space station cargo were on board, including the first docking port designed for future commercial crew capsules.

NASA commentator George Diller said "the vehicle has broken up." He says it was not clear how the disaster occurred.

SpaceX says the initial part of the liftoff went well, until the vehicle went supersonic.

This is the second failed station shipment. In April, a Russian cargo ship spun out of control and came down. And last October, another company's supply ship was destroyed in a launch accident.