--- title: "Internal Memo Confirms SpaceX Explosion Video Is Real" description: "A memo obtained by the Orlando Sentinel seems to confirm that a video showing an explosion during a test of SpaceX's astronaut capsule is authentic." date: "2019-04-30" modified: "2019-04-30" authors: - name: "Jon Christian" job_title: "Executive Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jonc" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/memo-confirms-spacex-explosion-video-real" categories: - "Space" - "SpaceX" tags: - "crew dragon" - "NASA" - "SpaceX" - "the digest" --- # Internal Memo Confirms SpaceX Explosion Video Is Real ![A memo obtained by the Orlando Sentinel seems to confirm that the video showing an explosion during a test of SpaceX's astronaut capsule is authentic.]() *\Image: SpaceX\* ## Authentic Anomaly A memo [obtained by the *Orlando Sentinel*]() seems to confirm that a [video showing an explosion]() during a test of SpaceX's astronaut capsule is authentic — which, as the newspaper points out, neither the Elon Musk-led space venture nor NASA has publicly admitted so far. "As most of you are aware, SpaceX conducted a test fire of their crew capsule abort engines at \[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station\], and they experienced an anomaly," reads the email, which the *Sentinel* reported was sent to employees of Jacobs, an aerospace company NASA contracts to do testing work. "Subsequently, video of the failed test — which was not released by SpaceX or NASA — appeared on the internet." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe4ee56aHSg ## Crew Capsule The video of the apparent blast first appeared on a pseudonymous Twitter account that later deleted the post, though it's since been [mirrored on YouTube](). SpaceX and NASA have remained tight-lipped about the incident, referring to it [only as an "anomaly"]() and pledging to investigate. The email told Jacobs employees that they were "prohibited from photographing or videotaping operational activities that take place on KSC CCAFS property unless officially authorized," according to the *Sentinel*. "It is up to NASA and other companies onsite to make the determination about what information related to their activities is released to the public." **READ MORE:** [After video of SpaceX explosion leaked, NASA workers told they can be fired for sharing images]() \[*Orlando Sentinel*\] **More on the incident:** *[SpaceX Won’t Admit That Its Crew Capsule Exploded]()* ## Author I'm responsible for editing, assigning, and scouting at Futurism, as well as occasionally writing for the site. That work involves keeping an eye on a wide range of narratives and issues, but over the past few years I've become increasingly interested in how AI is shaping the future of media, the web, and information itself. My day-to-day often involves collaborating on reporting and commentary projects bylined by my colleagues, but I try to find time to do my own reporting as well; stories I've broken for Futurism have been cited by publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, Wired, Ars Technica, New York Magazine, the Columbia Journalism Review, Bloomberg, and more. I grew up in Southern Vermont and attended Vanderbilt University. Prior to Futurism, I contributed to outlets including the Boston Globe, Vice, Wired, Slate, the Atlantic, the Outline, Ars Technica and more, and did stints in farming and food service. I currently live in Brooklyn, New York, and in my free time I enjoy pinball, word games, cycling, running, and music production. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()