A mysterious incident occurred on Saturday at a Cape Canaveral ground test of SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule, which is expected to carry US astronauts into space by the end of the year, SpaceX and Nasa. "SpaceX has conducted a series of engine tests on our Crew Dragon test vehicle at our Cape Canaveral test site," said a spokesman for SpaceX. "The initial tests went well, but the final test ended in an anomaly at the test site."
A cloud of smoke. Is this an explosion? The spokesman, like NASA, declined to comment further. But a Florida Today photographer photographed a cloud of black smoke over Cape Canaveral on Saturday. NASA boss Jim Bridenstine only said that NASA had been informed of the "anomaly". "That's why we're doing tests, we'll learn from it, and make the necessary adjustments to make the commercial flight program safe," he said in a tweet.
A first test successful. Crew Dragon conducted a life-size test in space in March, making an unmanned return of almost a week to the International Space Station. This success seemed to ensure that the first manned flight would take place before the end of this year. The capsule is equipped with eight thrusters (called SuperDraco) that serve as a backup system in case of emergency: for example, if the rocket that launches it has a problem, the capsule is detached at high speed thanks to its thrusters, to bring astronauts back to Earth safe and sound. The engines are printed in 3D.
Nasa relies on SpaceX's Dragon capsule and Boeing's Starliner to transport its astronauts to the ISS, which has been handed over to Russia since 2011.