As far as I can tell from the video
There's a few seconds of intense fire at the front following the initial outburst, which looks a lot like the second stage motor firing against the first stage. Shortly after that you get total break-up from aerodynamic forces (which is what actually destroyed Challenger and Columbia).
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evil_andy Stick stick stick stick sticky sticky stick stick, Sun 28 Jun 2015, 17:50,
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It's dead jim
There's chatter that one of the umbilicals didn't separate correctly on the pad which may have blocked a vent valve for the Oxygen tank. It appears the Oxygen tank finally let go just prior to first stage separation - what you see is a pressure explosion and not really much in the way of fire.
I suspect they knew this was happening and let it run in case the first stage separated OK and they could at least try to land on their barge.
Press conference later will probably confirm but definitely no lettuce for the ISS tonight.
Probably not the best Birthday Elon Musk has ever had.
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CockGripShaftingSleeve, Sun 28 Jun 2015, 19:10,
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Lox tank overpressure would surely be solved once the stage motor ignited.
If that is the case then it'd be a case of hoping the Lox tank can withstand the overpressure as atmospheric pressure reduces (outside) and Lox boils (inside) until the turbopump starts.
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wheresthefish Partly filled with wrong, Sun 28 Jun 2015, 20:26,
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