The private aerospace manufacturer SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, has confirmed that a spacecraft to be used later for manned flights... was destroyed in a recent test on the launchpad.
Hong Yoo reports.
SpaceX confirmed that its Crew Dragon spacecraft was "destroyed" during a recent test.
The failure is likely to seriously delay the company's plans to begin flying astronauts to the International Space Station this year.
SpaceX Vice President Hans Koenigsmann told reporters at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday that the explosion was linked to the firing up of Crew Dragon's SuperDraco engines, which power the spacecraft's emergency escape system.
No one was injured by the explosion as the area had been evacuated beforehand,... in line with the standard procedure for such tests. Koenigsmann said an investigation into the engine issue is still underway,... while multiple NASA officials have also stated that the agency is working "very closely" with SpaceX to investigate the incident.
Meanwhile,... a cargo mission to the International Space Station is set to go ahead Friday. SpaceX will launch a Falcon 9 rocket,... which already completed a mission to the station in 2017.
Hong Yoo, Arirang News.