Spaceflight Insider

NASA issues Falcon 9 / Dragon debris notice as SpaceX pushes back launch of Jason 3

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA radar image of SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 debris image credit NOAA Space Weather Google posted on SpaceFlight Insider

This image posted on SpaceWeather.com from imagery collected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows the debris trail after the Falcon 9 rocket exploded two minutes into flight on Sunday, June 28. Image Credit: NOAA / Space Weather / Google

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla — In the wake of the loss of a SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 rocket and Dragon spacecraft on Sunday, June 28, NASA has issued an advisory for those who encounter debris from the doomed mission. The prerequisite investigation has also caused the NewSpace firm to push back the next scheduled flight of the Falcon 9, with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Jason-3 satellite, which had been scheduled to take to the skies on July 22. 

A SpaceX blog on the U.S. Space Agency’s website has issued the following statement concerning any debris that is spotted from the failed CRS-7 mission:

SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 rocket lifts off from  Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40 in Florida with a Dragon spacecraft on the CRS 7 mission photo credit Mike Deep SpaceFlight Insider

The Falcon 9 v1.1 begins its 139-second ascent on Sunday, June 28. Photo Credit: Mike Deep / SpaceFlight Insider

SpaceX has established a recovery hotline and email address for anyone who finds debris from the SpaceX CRS-7 mission. The phone number should be active by 4 p.m. EDT.
Debris Recovery Hotline: 866-392-0035
Debris Recovery Email: recovery@spaceX.com

The website SpaceWeather.com posted imagery obtained from NOAA showing the debris trail reaching out into the Atlantic Ocean.

This was the first significant failure of a Falcon 9 and it has caused SpaceX to hold off on upcoming launches.

The Verge has reported SpaceX doesn’t know the exact impact Sunday’s accident will have on the aerospace firm’s current launch manifest. Sources within NASA have stated that the next flight of the Falcon 9, the launch of the Jason-3 spacecraft for NOAA, have been rescheduled for no-earlier-than August 8. However, it is likely that the delay will be longer.

After successfully lifting off at 10:21 a.m. EDT (14:21 GMT), the Falcon 9 disintegrated some two minutes and nineteen seconds into the flight. The apparent cause of the accident was an oxygen tank located on the Falcon 9’s second stage. According to FOX Boston, the Falcon 9 was traveling at approximately 2,900 miles per hour and at an altitude of 27 miles when the accident occurred.

Members of the aerospace establishment stood by the NewSpace firm during this setback.

Our thoughts are with the @SpaceX team. We understand getting to space is hard, but very important work. Wishing you a speedy recovery. – Orbital ATK posted on Twitter after the accident.

Stay tuned to SpaceFlight Insider for more news regarding this ongoing story

 

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Jason Rhian spent several years honing his skills with internships at NASA, the National Space Society and other organizations. He has provided content for outlets such as: Aviation Week & Space Technology, Space.com, The Mars Society and Universe Today.

Reader Comments

my question is spacex dragon destroyed or not ?

if not destroyed whree is ?

rocket destroyed after or before saparation of 1 st stage ?

dragaon is capacity to resitance explod any part of rocket ?

Hi Shrinivas,
1. Yes, both the Dragon and Falcon 9 rocket were destroyed.
2. The debris fell into the Atlantic Ocean off the Coast of Florida.
3. It does not appear at this time that separation completely occurred.
4. The uncrewed version of Dragon does not have the capability at present to survive an explosion of the Falcon 9.
Sincerely, Jason Rhian – Editor, SpaceFlight Insider

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