A Falcon 9R rocket developed and operated by California-based Space Exploration Technologies Corp., also known as SpaceX, exploded shortly after launching during a test flight in Texas, the company has confirmed.

The unmanned rocket had lifted off from the SpaceX rocket-development facility in McGregor, Texas, about 23 miles southeast of Waco.

The intended flight was part of the ongoing testing process for the company's three-engine version of the company's reusable Falcon 9 rocket, SpaceX spokesman John Taylor said in a statement.

"During the flight, an anomaly was detected in the vehicle and the flight termination system automatically terminated the mission," he said, adding that "throughout the test and subsequent flight termination, the vehicle remained in the designated flight area. There were no injuries or near injuries."

The Falcon 9R is the replacement for the company's retired Grasshopper rocket, which was capable of launching into the air, hovering and then returning back to the earth surface, setting down on its landing legs. Media reports say the Falcon 9R is designed to launch and deliver payloads and return to Earth to be reused. After a successful launch and return of a 9R in May, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk told NBC News this type of rocket could make spaceflight 100 times cheaper.

"Today's test was particularly complex," Taylor said, "pushing the limits of the vehicle further than any previous test. As is our practice, the company will be reviewing the flight record details to learn more about the performance of the vehicle prior to our next test."

Founded in 2002 by PayPal and Tesla Motors founder Elon Musk, the commercial SpaceX joins The Boeing Company, Blue Origin and Sierra Nevada Corporation in the hand-picked group pf companies vying to win a contract to build the next generation of crew transport vehicles used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to send astronauts and other explorers up to the International Space Station or low-orbit targets.

The lead space agency has announced it wants the new shuttle system up and running by 2017.