A SpaceX rocket test started a small wildfire at a nearby wildlife refuge over the Memorial Day weekend, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
SpaceX’s testing of its Falcon 9 rocket on Sunday ignited a small portion of Florida’s Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on fire.
Other than the fire, the rocket successfully passed its test. SpaceX was founded by tech billionaire Elon Musk.
#USFWS firefighters are responding to a new wildfire at Merritt Island NWR caused by a static rocket test fire #FLfire pic.twitter.com/9q9zoVgrnO
— USFWS Fire SE (@USFWSFireSE) May 28, 2017
Firefighters quickly got the small fire under control after drenching it with water dropped from a helicopter. The fire topped out at a mere 4 acres before it was put out.
SpaceX engine test sparks 2-acre brush fire at Merritt Island NWR; @USFWSFireSE contains blaze: https://t.co/4JCFv78AcI @Florida_Today pic.twitter.com/2NhomL9Ak6
— Rick Neale (@RickNeale1) May 28, 2017
The Falcon 9 rocket used during the test has been officially cleared for a launch into outer space Thursday. This particular spacecraft is being reused after already flying to the International Space Station (ISS) in September 2014. The craft will carry lots of scientific experiments, hardware, food and other supplies
Reusable rockets are considered a major advance by the rocket and space industry as spaceflight cost lies not in the fuel, but rather the rocket components.
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