Crew Dragon exploded

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft exploded yesterday during a ground test of an emergency rescue system. Previously, he successfully flew to the International Space Station in an unmanned mode and returned to Earth.



The company conducted ground tests at Cape Canaveral, which were to prepare the ship for an important test launch with the ejection of the capsule during the flight. SuperDraco engines should carry out an emergency ejection of the ship if an abnormal situation occurs with a rocket. What the designers did not seem to think about - that emergency situations are also possible with the emergency rescue system.
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In the normal space flight mode, SuperDraco was not supposed to be launched, although it had previously been provided for the possibility of rocket landing on land without the use of a parachute.



In normal mode, the ship must land at sea using parachutes. The first flight of the ship was successful in March, and the flooded capsule was supposed to be used for further testing of the emergency rescue system. After that, they wanted to send her to the museum.



The current accident will delay the program of testing and certification of Crew Dragon ships to manned flights. For the next test, in which the injured ship should have participated, you will have to create a new Crew Dragon, which will take time, or you will have to use the one that has so far prepared for the first manned flight.

Delays in the development of another American ship Boeing Starliner may lead to the fact that another year or more manned flights to the International Space Station will take place only on the Russian Soyuz-MS.