---
title: "NASA Head: “No Doubt” SpaceX Explosion Delayed Flight Program"
description: "NASA head Jim Bridenstine announced that the SpaceX capsule explosion earlier this year has delayed the space agency's plans for crewed missions."
date: "2019-06-18"
modified: "2019-06-18"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-spacex-explosion-delayed-flight-program"
categories:
  - "NASA"
  - "Space"
  - "SpaceX"
tags:
  - "NASA"
  - "space"
  - "SpaceX"
  - "the digest"
---

# NASA Head: “No Doubt” SpaceX Explosion Delayed Flight Program

![NASA head Jim Bridenstine announced that the SpaceX capsule explosion earlier this year has delayed the space agency's plans for crewed missions.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/nasa-spacex-explosion-delayed-flight-program.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: SpaceX/Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

## Minor Glitch

Back in April, a [SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule exploded](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-confirms-anomaly-destroy-crew-dragon>) during a static test.

The plan was for NASA to use SpaceX — or another contractor — to shuttle astronauts to the International Space Station as the American agency moved away from its [partnership with Russia](<https://futurism.com/russia-america-space-partnership-end>). But now NASA head Jim Bridenstine says that the search for a replacement rocket-maker isn't going as planned.

## Details Redacted

A crewed SpaceX flight was originally supposed to happen next month, but that timeline was set under the assumption that the static test would go off without a hitch.

"There is no doubt the schedule will change," Bridenstine said at Tuesday's Paris Airshow, [according to *Reuters*](<https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-airshow-nasa-spacex/nasa-boss-says-no-doubt-spacex-explosion-delays-flight-program-idUSKCN1TJ0P2>), but didn't share any details about the new schedule. “It won’t be what was originally planned.”

## About Face

This latest plot twist is the latest in a long line of confusing news surrounding the SpaceX explosion. First, SpaceX insisted on calling the [fiery explosion an "anomaly"](<https://futurism.com/spacex-crew-capsule-exploded>) for weeks before confirming that an explosion happened. Then a NASA official [called the explosion a "gift,"](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-leader-spacex-explosion-gift>) treating it like a learning opportunity.

The specifics of Bridenstine's speech on Tuesday were few and far between, *Reuters* reports, but he did pledge increased transparency around events like this failed test.

**READ MORE:** [NASA boss says 'no doubt' SpaceX explosion delays flight program](<https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-airshow-nasa-spacex/nasa-boss-says-no-doubt-spacex-explosion-delays-flight-program-idUSKCN1TJ0P2>) \[*Reuters*\]

**More on SpaceX:** *[Internal Memo Confirms SpaceX Explosion Video is Real](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/memo-confirms-spacex-explosion-video-real>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)