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SpaceX has just closed another successful resupply mission for NASA, delivering 5,500 pounds of supplies for scientists aboard the International Space Station, and then returning to Earth for a dip in the Pacific Ocean.
The return of the Dragon cargo went as planned: the capsule was detached from the ISS and then returned to Earth Monday afternoon. SpaceX tweeted the news that the parachute of the spacecraft had deployed properly and that it had a "good landing" in the ocean.
The mission, which was SpaceX's 17th replenishment trip, ends at a time when SpaceX's Crew Dragon project is under scrutiny. A few weeks ago, a static fire test of the Crew Dragon resulted in the total destruction of the spacecraft, and the details of what went wrong took a long time to surface.
The anomaly, which corresponds to how SpaceX and NASA describe the accident, occurred during a test of Crew Dragon engine abort systems, which would be used if a last-second abortion was to be performed during a crewed mission. This is an extremely important feature that must work flawlessly and, well, do not blow everyone up.
At a recent meeting of a NASA Advisory Board committee, SpaceX was commended for "doing a great job" in reporting the anomaly, but the investigation into the ## 147 ## ############################################################################# 39, accident is still in progress.
Until this unfortunate problem, SpaceX had far outstripped rival Boeing in his race to supply a spacecraft capable of accompanying his crew to NASA. With hindsight and subsequent investigation, it is unclear to what extent one or the other society is about to send humans into space from US soil. Anyway, SpaceX replenishment missions in the Dragon seem to be going as smoothly as ever, which is good news for the company.
Image Source: Terry Renna / AP / REX / Shutterstock
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