ROCKET SCIENCE
SpaceX concluded accident investigation, to start launching rockets again
by Brooks Hays
Hawthorne, Calif. (UPI) Jan 2, 2017


SpaceX has identified the anomaly responsible for the explosion of its Falcon 9 rocket on Sept. 1, 2016, and is now ready to resume its launch schedule starting Jan. 8.

Investigators concluded the explosion was caused by a cascade of material failures and corrosive events triggered by rapid temperature and pressure changes. Broken carbon fibers in one of the composite overwrapped pressure vessels, COPVs -- helium containers inside a larger oxygen tank -- yielded a breach that allowed supercooled oxygen fuel to accumulate before becoming ignited by friction.

The rocket exploded while being fueled in preparation for a preflight engine test. The explosion destroyed the craft and the space satellite it was preparing to carry into orbit. The aerospace company grounded its rockets indefinitely in the wake of the accident, one of several suffered by SpaceX in 2016.

"Really surprising problem that's never been encountered before in the history of rocketry," SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said in a CNBC interview in November.

For now, the company will augment its prelaunch fueling and engine test routine to prevent a similar accident.

"In the long term, SpaceX will implement design changes to the COPVs to prevent buckles altogether, which will allow for faster loading operations," SpaceX promised in a status update.

Though the investigation into the explosion was led by SpaceX, representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, the United States Air Force, NASA and the National Transportation Safety Board served on the investigation panel.

The launch on Jan. 8 will take place at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. A new Falcon 9 rocket will carry a 10-pack of communication satellites into space for Iridium Communications.

SpaceX hopes to resume launching cargo supply flights for NASA and the International Space Station starting later this month.


Comment on this article using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.

.


Related Links
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com






Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

Previous Report
ROCKET SCIENCE
SpaceX Aims to Resume Falcon 9 Flights in 2016, Blames Helium Tank for Explosion
Hawthorne CA (Sputnik) Nov 01, 2016
According to a statement released October 28, SpaceX has made progress in determining the cause of last month's accident on the Falcon 9 rocket's launch pad and expects to resume flights before the end of this year. After the incident, in which the entire Falcon 9 rocket and its AMOS-6 satellite payload was lost, a group of experts including professionals from the Federal Aviation Administ ... read more


ROCKET SCIENCE
Unidentified country orders Patriot system upgrade

MBDA submits proposal for TLVS development in Germany

Lockheed Martin receives $1.4 billion for Patriot missile sales

U.S. Air Force approves Lockheed Martin's SBIRS ground system

ROCKET SCIENCE
Qatar, India, Italy purchase Raytheon Stinger missiles

Raytheon to provide missile defense training for Qatar

U.S. Navy orders 214 Raytheon Tomahawk missiles

U.S. missile deal for Poland finalized

ROCKET SCIENCE
Britain, France continue drone development project

Ford studies using drones to guide self-driving cars

Bird-like drone uses feathers for a more precise flight path

QinetiQ acquires Meggitt Target Systems

ROCKET SCIENCE
U.S. Navy selects Raytheon for tactical radio production

Underwater radio, anyone?

Japan to Launch First Military Communications Satellite on January 24

Intelsat General to provide satellite services to RiteNet for US Army network

ROCKET SCIENCE
Oshkosh receives JLTV production modification

Kongsberg contracted for M1A2 CROWS configuration

Raytheon offers InSITE for U.S. Army training program

BAE Systems to provide active protection for Dutch CV90 vehicles

ROCKET SCIENCE
Croatia charges top official over military contract bribe

Estonia consolidates military procurement process

Saudi projects drop in defence spending

Trump calls on Boeing to offer quote for F-35 rival

ROCKET SCIENCE
McCain calls for permanent US troops in Baltics

Duterte seeks 'strategic shift' from US to China: envoy

Russia flags war games with US ally Philippines

Indonesia suspends military cooperation with Australia

ROCKET SCIENCE
Nanoscale 'conversations' create complex, multi-layered structures

Going green with nanotechnology

Nanocubes simplify printing and imaging in color and infrared

New aspect of atom mimicry for nanotechnology applications