--- title: "Elon Musk Tweets Support For Startup That Exploded Rocket Launch" description: "Elon Musk tweeted his support for New Zealand's Rocket Lab after their failed rocket launch destroyed seven satellites." date: "2020-07-07" modified: "2020-07-15" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-support-startup-exploded-rocket-launch" categories: - "Elon Musk" - "Future Society" - "Off-World" - "Space" - "The Industrialists" tags: - "elon musk" - "Rocket Lab" - "SpaceX" - "the digest" --- # Elon Musk Tweets Support For Startup That Exploded Rocket Launch ![Rocket Lab's 13th launch ended in disaster when the rocket blew up and destroyed seven satellites. Elon Musk felt bad and provided some moral support.]() *\Image: Rocket Lab\* ## Blast Off and Blow Up New Zealand-based spaceflight company Rocket Lab had a very bad day. Its 13th and most recent launch on July 3, ironically dubbed ["Pics or It Didn't Happen,"]() ended in disaster when the upper-stage of its Electron rocket experienced a failure shortly after liftoff. The rocket blew up, exploding seven pricey satellites into smithereens. But the startup still has friends in high places. https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1279593019616837632 ## Mea Culpa What followed was an awkward statement from Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck, who had the terrible job of apologizing for losing the satellites. Oops. "It's fair to say, today was a pretty tough day," he said in a [video statement](). "We lost the flight late into the mission," Beck [tweeted]() later on. "I am incredibly sorry that we failed to deliver our customers satellites today. Rest assured we will find the issue, correct it and be back on the pad soon." ## "Rockets Are Hard" Luckily, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has a bit of a soft spot when it comes to rockets. "Sorry to hear about this," he [tweeted]() in response to the statement. "Hope you get back to orbit soon. Rockets are hard." "Thanks Elon," the company's official account [shot back](). "Appreciate it! The team is working hard to get us back on the pad soon." United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno also joined in on the pity party by [tweeting]() a brief message of support. "Hang in there, Peter," he wrote. Even the company that lost satellites in the launch, Planet Labs, had some kind words as well. "While it's never the outcome that we hope for, the risk of launch failure is one Planet is always prepared for," the company [told *Reuters*](). **READ MORE:** [Elon Musk and other competitors rushed to support Rocket Lab after the startup's founder apologized for losing 7 satellites in a launch failure]() \[*Business Insider*\] **More on Rocket Labs:** *[A Small Company Is Quietly Planning a Moon Mission Next Year]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()