SpaceX confirms on Thursday, May 2, that its Crew Dragon capsule was destroyed in a ground test two weeks ago. The event is a letdown, specifically for the company's objective of launching astronauts this year.
The capsule exploded on April 20, just about half-second prior to the firing of the launch-abort thrusters.
No Clear Reason Yet
Hans Koenigsmann, vice president of Mission Assurance, which is a company that ensures the safety and success of SpaceX missions, says it is too early to conclude the reason behind the failure.
Until now, SpaceX personnel are not able to access the testing area at Cape Canaveral due to safety purposes. The company says they do not want to alter any evidence that may provide insights as to how the explosion came about.
Smaller Version Still A Go
Amid the failure, SpaceX said they are still ready to launch a smaller cargo version of the capsule to deliver goods to the International Space Station.
On Monday, April 29, the ISS lost about 25 percent of its power, preventing all deliveries to happen. The orbiting outpost regained power on Thursday, May 2, after flight controllers successfully replaced the box. Despite the failed ground testing and the forecasted storms, SpaceX is all set to launch a Falcon rocket with ISS supplies on Friday morning.
Cargo Vs Crew
The Dragon capsule has a crew and cargo version. The difference between the two are quite significant. First off, the cargo does not have SuperDraco thrusters that are attached into the crew version. These thrusters are used to push the capsule off a newly launched rocket during an emergency.
Koenigsmann believes the thrusters should be eliminated from the list of possible reasons for the ground test failure. When the flames surged, the system was already activated, and that involves opening and closing the valves, and pressurizing systems.
In the summer, SpaceX will test the newly returned Crew Dragon to see how the thrusters fair in an aborted flight. Koenigsmann said more of these capsules are being manufactured, and can be tested.
Delayed Schedule, Unabated Hope
Koenigsmann still hopes that SpaceX will be able to fly two NASA astronauts to the ISS in 2019. The timeline, however, will depend in the findings of the investigations.
"I don't want to completely preclude the current schedule," Koenigsmann says. "It's certainly not great news for the schedule overall, but I hope we can recover."
Mission Must Go On
NASA hired SpaceX and Boeing to fly astronauts to and from the ISS, rather than relying on Russian rockets for a lift. NASA has been made aware of the ground test failure.
"NASA has been notified about the results of the @SpaceX Static Fire Test and the anomaly that occurred during the final test. We will work closely to ensure we safely move forward with our Commercial Crew Program," tweets Jim Bridenstine, NASA administrator. He adds that the team will learn, adjust accordingly, and safely continue with the commercial crew program.
