On Saturday good afternoon , there was an incident at Cape Canaveral involving SpaceX ’s Crew Dragon capsule . The event , which did not ensue in any injuries , is currently being look into . It befall during a serial publication of important mental test design to evaluate the safety of the abridgment .
The company was conduct a unchanging attack test , which involve firing the engine at full thrust , on the capsule ’s “ exigency abort system ” . This lineament is crucial to guarantee the guard of any astronauts that might travel aboard the capsule . A similar system is in position in the Russian Soyuz capsule and get NASA ’s Nick Hague and Roscosmos ’ Alexey Ovchininback to Earth safelyafter a malfunction last October .
The inauspicious events of Saturday ’s test are likely to change the timeline for the first crewed launch by a private company as part of NASA ’s Commercial Crew Program . SpaceX was hoping that the first crewed launch would happen in June . It ’s unclear how severe the incident was and how it will affect SpaceX ’s plans , although , in an unverified video , the intact space capsule appears to break loose .
" to begin with today , SpaceX convey a serial publication of engine tests on a Crew Dragon trial run fomite on our test stand at Landing Zone 1 in Cape Canaveral , Florida . The initial test completed successfully but the final test lead in an anomaly on the test stand , ” a SpaceX voice said in astatement .
“ assure that our system of rules meet tight safety banner and detecting anomalies like this prior to flying are the principal reasons why we test . Our teams are investigate and working closely with our NASA partners . "
These sentiments were echoed by Jim Bridenstine , NASA ’s administrator , who , in atweet , also refer to Saturday ’s mischance as an anomaly . “ This is why we try out . We will con , make the necessary adjustment , and safely move fore with our Commercial Crew Program , ” he express .
On March 3 , SpaceX ’s Crew Dragon spacecraftsuccessfully dockedwith the International Space Station . The moorage delivered supply and carry a exam dummy nicknamed Ripley , which immortalize important datum about what it ’s like to be a passenger inside the capsule . NASA ’s Commercial Crew Program will be how astronauts wing to space from American stain in the contiguous future tense . This is something that has n’t happened since the Space Shuttle back in July 2011 .
[ H / T : Business Insider ]
