Smoke seen for miles as SpaceX Crew Dragon suffers anomaly at Cape Canaveral

[clapclapclap 9000]

Test went crappy, it seems like SpaceX lacks something.

https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2019/04/20/smoke-seen-miles-spacex-crew-dragon-suffers-anomaly-cape-canaveral/3531086002/

A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule suffered an anomaly during an engine test firing at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Saturday afternoon, company and 45th Space Wing officials confirmed.

"On April 20, 2019, an anomaly occurred at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station during the Dragon 2 static test fire," Wing Spokesman Jim Williams told FLORIDA TODAY. "The anomaly was contained and there were no injuries."

FLORIDA TODAY photographer Craig Bailey, covering a surf fest in Cocoa Beach, captured an image of orange plumes rising from SpaceX facilities at the Cape around 3:30 p.m. Unconfirmed reports indicated the capsule was destroyed.

“Earlier today, SpaceX conducted a series of engine tests on a Crew Dragon test vehicle on our test stand at Landing Zone 1 in Cape Canaveral, Florida," SpaceX said in a statement. "The initial tests completed successfully but the final test resulted in an anomaly on the test stand."

"Ensuring that our systems meet rigorous safety standards and detecting anomalies like this prior to flight are the main reasons why we test. Our teams are investigating and working closely with our NASA partners," the company said.

SpaceX's Crew Dragon, also referred to as Dragon 2, is designed to take humans to the International Space Station and successfully flew for the first time in March. The company was planning to launch a crewed version of the spacecraft no earlier than July, but was also planning an in-flight abort test, or a demonstration of its life-saving abort capabilities, sometime before then. 

It is unknown which Crew Dragon was involved in the Saturday anomaly, but each spacecraft has Super Draco thrusters designed to be used as a launch abort system. All SpaceX engines require occasional test firings to evaluate readiness and performance.

SpaceX's timeline to return crews to the ISS from U.S. soil will now likely be modified as the investigation into the incident continues 

[The University 851]

[Texas_Rocks 347]

Failures like these in todays high tech environment only makes me think that much more of the amazing feats accomplished by NASA with relatively low tech.

[PilotsError 2322]

4 minutes ago, Texas_Rocks said:

Failures like these in todays high tech environment only makes me think that much more of the amazing feats accomplished by NASA with relatively low tech.

 

Certainly raises some interesting questions.

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

By anomaly they mean blowed up ?

[The Golden Hat 302]

They could have said the word "anomaly" a few more times if you ask me

[El Diablo 4232]

Orange smoke means that Disney has chosen a new mouse to be their figurehead.  Rumors suggest Cuban born Miguel Raton has taken the throne and while the Cuban community will be pleased, the French will argue that Remy of Ratatouille fame should have gotten the nod. 

[RPM 26355]

43 minutes ago, Onboard 2.0 said:

By anomaly they mean blowed up ?

[atomheartbevo 89809]

This is supposedly video.  

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1119825093742530560

[ImissWallyPryor 9046]

I was expecting something funny. 

[Dewey 3294]

By anomaly they mean blowed up ?

They mean a lot of money and hours went up in flames, they're being sensitive.

 

[tucker 238]

[bernorange 8366]

From one of my internets acquaintances (who does work related to the space programs in Florida):

Quote

Space X suffered a major set-back Saturday during a test of the Draco boosters on the abort system aboard the Dragon Crew capsule for the Falcon Heavy Rocket. It was on the test stand doing the last of a series of tests when something went terribly wrong and the whole load of hypergolic fuels [momomethyl hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide] blew it in to tiny pieces. The whole thing went up in a huge explosion. When I heard they used the capsule that flew to the ISS with supplies a few weeks ago, splashed down in the Atlantic and then sat in salt water for over an hour waiting to be picked up blew my mind. These were tests to certify it for human flight. Why didn't they use the fucking new one that is sitting in the barn at 39-A???? What the fuck Elon, you arrogant fucktarded asshat?
...

https://www.pmbug.com/forum/f9/space-x-dragon-crew-capsule-3907/