SpaceX has recently broadcasted a new development on the investigation proceeding the Falcon 9 rocket explosion which occurred two months ago. The investigation which was jointly executed by the Federal Aviation Association, NASA, and the US Air Force pointed to the failure of the helium tank as the cause of the explosion.
Following the explosion of Falcon 9, CEO Elon Musk explains that the explosion was due to the formation of solid oxygen in one of the helium bottles, Gamenguide reports. The theory on strut failure have already been dismissed, since the problem was on the fueling process, instead of machine malfunction or an engineering flaw.
Although the investigation is still open, Musk is confident that the explosion is nothing to worry about, since SpaceX possesses a technology that could mimic any activity on the rocket. In this case, the Falcon 9's explosion was duplicated, which resulted to the failure in managing the condition of pressurized helium being loaded into the tank.
Tanker refueling Mars vehicle in Earth orbit https://t.co/kCtBLPbSg8 pic.twitter.com/nGSPIWYhnK
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 27, 2016
Investigators are convinced that changes in the temperature and the pressurized helium have greatly altered the mechanics leading to the explosion, CS Monitor reports. SpaceX is assuring the public that the company will improve the condition of the helium being loaded into the tank to prevent such incident again.
Dragon has been released from the @Space_Station! Three departure burns are now underway: https://t.co/XbCVPGwLuR pic.twitter.com/hfw5oeazHf — SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 26, 2016
Now that the investigation is producing positive results, SpaceX is working on resuming Falcon 9 flights by the end of the year. Iridium Communications was one of the companies who partnered with SpaceX to launch their satellites when the September 1 explosion occurred. However, Iridium Communications is confident with the result of the investigation and will proceed with the launch.
