The Explosion of Falcon 9 Rocket Was Caused by Helium Leak

On Friday, SpaceX has declared that the explosion of Falcon 9 rocket that happened at Cape Canaveral was caused by helium leak in the pressurization system. This leak triggered the demolition of the satellite and its booster rocket. SpaceX’s number one concern is going back up there safe and sound with the help of NASA’s vehicle used for commercial purposes for the International Space Station.

The investigation which SpaceX started with the help of industry specialists is still searching for the grounds of this dangerous breach. This leakage is thought to be only the onset, but not the actual source of the explosion that happened on the first of September. This horrible incident happened when Falcon 9 rocket was in the process of filling with fuel, getting ready to start its preflight engine.

On its website, SpaceX argues that 93 milliseconds were enough to go from a sign of disorder to the dangerous burst. The company received the help of NASA, industry experts, the US Air Force, and the Federal Aviation Administration which needed to examine 3 thousand broadcasters of data. Together with all this, they also ought to analyze video and audio material from that day. Nearly every detritus dispersed in this horrible accident managed to be regained and tagged to be further analyzed by the experts.

All these materials that were gathered proved that there was a massive leakage registered in the system of helium fro the tank filled with liquid oxygen. Now SpaceX is searching for the culprits of this terrible explosion. The Falcon 9 rocket had attached to it the Amos 6 satellite which was the ownership of Israel’s Spacecom Ltd. This satellite was programmed to set up only two days after the explosion.

SpaceX comes with further explanations for this accident. The liquid oxygen storage tank of Falcon 9 rocket incorporates some tankers filled with composite helium. Every tanker is pressurized to almost 5,500 pounds per square inch when flying. The helium follows a certain trajectory to the Merlin engine. There, the helium is warmed up and prepared to be injected into Falcon 9 rocket’s propulsive storage tank used to maintain a leveled pressure as the transmitter burns the fuel.

When the helium tanks of Falcon 9 caused the outburst, the malfunction was registered to occur eight minutes before the engine of the rocket was due to catch fire for the “static fire” test. During the countdown at that time, the engine’s tanks were not yet leveled for pressure, being ready for the launch.

What do you think SpaceX could have done to prevent this accident? Who do you think is responsible for this?

Image source: wikipedia