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SpaceX-TestStand

When SpaceX began building what would become its Merlin engine, it settled on a relatively unproblematic design it could bring to market quickly and calibration upwards over time. Over the terminal 11 years, successive modifications to the base engine take introduced features like regenerative cooling, increased thrust, and improved vacuum performance. On Sunday, while testing the side by side generation of Merlin intended for the Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket, the company suffered a setback when one of its newest Merlin 1D engines blew up earlier firing in a qualification test. The good news is, no one was injured, though two of SpaceX's test stands were damaged in the explosion at the MacGregor, Texas facility.

"All rubber protocols were followed during the time of this incident," said a company spokesman. "We are now conducting a thorough and fully transparent investigation of the root crusade. SpaceX is committed to our current manifest, and we do not wait this to take any bear upon on our launch cadency."

The base of a newer Falcon 9 v1.1 launch vehicle, with a circular arrangement of Merlin 1D engines

The base of operations of a newer Falcon ix v1.one launch vehicle, with a circular arrangement of Merlin 1D engines

A source told Ars Technica the explosion occurred before the engine was fired and happened when liquid oxygen (LOX) was added to the engine to cheque for leaks. It'due south non clear why the engine ignited, just testing on the Cake 5 Merlin 1D will plainly be suspended until the effect is stock-still. The trouble shouldn't delay any of SpaceX's launches; the company's near-term and early 2022 missions were all scheduled to utilize the Block iv version of the Falcon 9 with its well-established Merlin 1D (improved) variant.

The Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket is slated to deploy a number of new capabilities when it launches next twelvemonth, including an improved flight command system to lower the amount of fuel required to successfully land the rocket, titanium, temperature-resistant fins (to assist with rocket reusability), a new thermal protection coating on the legs to limit reentry damage, a reusable heat shield, retractable landing legs, and a suite of other changes to win NASA's nod equally a viable vehicle for its Commercial Crew Program as well as National Security Launch requirements.

Musk has actually pulled several improvements, like uprated engines and the titanium grid fins into before generations of the Falcon 9 Block 4. But the fact that SpaceX is going to reexamine its engine pattern, specifically, could mean that the business firm wanted to further increase available thrust with the Block 5 engine, or that the explosion is related to other changes to the base of operations design. Alternately, of course, information technology could have been a one-off issue caused by a defect in this specific engine. We should know more shortly.