UP

SpaceX aiming to return to flight next month

Home page Science
12 Punto 14 Punto 16 Punto 18 Punto
SpaceX aiming to return to flight next month

SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk said on Friday his space launch company is aiming to return its rockets to flight in mid-December following a launch pad accident two months ago.

Musk said investigators had figured out why a Falcon 9 rocket burst into flames on Sept. 1 as it was being fueled for a routine, preflight test.

The accident destroyed a $200 million Israeli communications satellite and grounded the Falcon 9 fleet for the second time in 14 months.

The cause of the accident was a fueling system issue that inadvertently produced solid oxygen inside the rocket’s upper stage tank. The oxygen then reacted with a carbon composite bottle containing liquid helium that sits inside the oxygen tank, triggering an explosion.

"I think we’ve gotten to the bottom of the problem," said Musk, who is also chief executive of Tesla Motors Inc (TSLA.O). He added that the issue had never been encountered in the history of rocketry.

Musk did not specify what mission would launch next, nor whether SpaceX would fly from a new launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, or from its West Coast site at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

SpaceX’s primary launch pad, located just south of Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, was damaged in the Sept. 1 accident. SpaceX has declined to release details on the extent of damage.

The company has a backlog of about 70 missions, worth more than $10 billion.

Also on Friday, NASA and Orbital ATK Inc (OA.N) said Orbital’s next cargo run to the International Space Station would use the heavier-lift Atlas 5 rocket, made by United Launch Alliance, rather than Orbital’s Antares booster. The switch will allow NASA to fly an extra 660 pounds (300 kg) of cargo to the station while SpaceX returns to flight.

NASA hired Orbital and SpaceX to fly cargo to the station after the shuttles were retired in 2011.

Terms of Orbital’s contract with United Launch Alliance, a partnership of Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) and Boeing Co (BA.N), were not released. The launch is targeted for early 2017, NASA said.

Date
2016.11.05 / 11:29
Author
Axar.az
See also

Azerbaijani, Turkish FMs discuss bilateral ties in Baku

Azerbaijan’s CICA chairmanship extended until 2028

CENTCOM rejects Iranian claims on US military deaths

US expands sanctions on Iran’s oil, financial networks

Houthi missile hits Saudi fighter jet - Video

Syria’s Jabsa gas pipeline targeted in explosion

Russian oil companies ready to supply diesel fuel to US

Israeli forces demolish military positions in Syria

Russia adds journalist Nevzorov to terrorism list

Putin: Ukrainian attacks caused little refinery damage

Latest
Xocalı soyqırımı — 1992-ci il Bağla
Bize yazin Bağla
ArxivBağla