--- title: "We Finally Know What Caused the SpaceX Crew Dragon Explosion" description: "SpaceX has preliminary results to share about what it suspects caused its Crew Dragon capsule to fail during an engine test in April." date: "2019-07-16" modified: "2019-07-16" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/cause-spacex-explosion-april" categories: - "Crew Dragon" - "Space" - "SpaceX" tags: - "crew dragon" - "NASA" - "SpaceX" - "the digest" --- # We Finally Know What Caused the SpaceX Crew Dragon Explosion ![SpaceX has preliminary results to share about what it suspects caused its Crew Dragon capsule to fail during an engine test in April.]() *\Image: SpaceX/Victor Tangermann\* ## Crew Dragon Explosion A [video posted on Twitter]() in April showed SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule exploding in a ball of smoke. Weeks later, SpaceX Vice President of Mission Assurance Hans Koenigsmann [confirmed]() during a press event that the capsule was destroyed in the accident. And now, almost three months later, SpaceX has preliminary results to share about what it suspects caused the capsule to fail: "evidence shows that a leaking component allowed liquid oxidizer — nitrogen tetroxide — to enter high-pressure helium tubes during ground processing," SpaceX wrote [in a statement]() released Monday. ## Leaky Valve An engine test of twelve of the company's Draco thrusters used only for launch escape "resulted in destruction of the vehicle," according to the statement. The investigation team verified the flammability of the check valve that failed and ignited. "Lessons learned from the test — and others in our comprehensive test campaign — will lead to further improvements in the safety and reliability of SpaceX’s flight vehicles," read the statement. SpaceX has decided to replace the faulty valves with burst discs that "will mitigate the risk entirely." ## Lessons Learned According to NASA head Jim Bridenstine, the Crew Dragon explosion will delay SpaceX's plans to send astronauts to the International Space Station. "There is no doubt the schedule will change," Bridenstine said at the Paris Air Show in June, [according to *Reuters*](). "It won’t be what was originally planned." **READ MORE:** [Leaky component led to SpaceX explosion]() \[*BBC*\] **More on SpaceX:** *[Fire Breaks Out at SpaceX Starship Facility in Florida]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()