Monday, April 22, 2019

SpaceX Crew Dragon Suffers Anomaly During Engine Test

The SpaceX Crew Dragon, the spacecraft being designed by Hawthorne-based SpaceX to deliver astronauts into orbit, suffered what appears to be a major issue in testing on Saturday during an engine test--sending smoke billowing from its test location which was visible from miles away. According to SpaceX, there was an "anomaly" on the test stand involving a Crew Dragon test vehicle. No one was injured in the incident, although the capsule was believed to have been destroyed as a result of the incident, according to local media reports. The testing was done at Cape Canaveral. Although no one was injured, it's likely the incident will delay the plans by SpaceX and NASA to launch a mission this year with astronauts to the International Space Station. The Crew Dragon involved in the incident is the same one which was launched to the ISS in March, and returned to Earth on March 11th.

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