SpaceX Rocket Explosion Update: Cause Revealed

First Posted: Sep 26, 2016 05:24 AM EDT
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SpaceX made headlines when its Falcon 9 exploded on Cape Canaveral launch complex during a static test. Initially, the private space flight company could not identify what caused the accident. But just recently, its engineers have discovered that a problem in the helium system has led to the SpaceX rocket explosion.

BABW News reported that during the several weeks of search, the Accident Investigation Team examined rocket debris and reviewed audio and video recordings from the incident. After looking through 3,000 channels of data, scientists have found that the explosion happened due to a breach in the helium system. This has caused the company's event to fail.

Falcon 9 would supposedly launch an Amos-6 satellite, but the accident destroyed the latter. To keep the fuel tanks stable during the heat of the launch, the system injects helium to them; hence the link to the findings of the investigation.

Meanwhile, the fire's impact on SpaceX's future launches depends on the amount of damage the blaze did to the launchpad. According to the company, the explosion affected a considerable amount of the pad systems.

On the other hand, there is still some good news. Gizmodo reported that the control systems of the launch pad are in good condition and the rocket support building has no damage. Also, the kerosene fuel and liquid oxygen farms were untouched.

In the time being, SpaceX does not link the incident to its previous explosion. In 2015, the CSR-7 mission likewise exploded while on the way to the International Space Station (ISS).

On September 1, several people watched a SpaceX rocket explode. Falcon 9 was in flames and there were numerous images of a smoke plume that was rising above the complex. After the SpaceX rocket explosion occurred, threats that the commercial program grind of SpaceX would cease surfaced. As of writing, there are claims that the findings are enough to allow the company to move forward.

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