Memo Appears To Confirm SpaceX Capsule Was Lost In Explosion Written 1 May 2019
1 May 2019
The Los Angeles Times reports that “a video circulating on the internet that appeared to show SpaceX’s astronaut capsule exploding during an April 20 test was leaked from the test area, according to an internal memo issued by a major NASA contractor.” Both “NASA and SpaceX have been tight-lipped about the extent of the damage to the vehicle” following the dissemination of a “grainy video of the explosion” that “shows the Crew Dragon on a test stand at what appears to be Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station” before exploding “while voices are heard shouting expletives.” The email by aerospace company Jacobs said, “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. ... Subsequently, video of the failed test – which was not released by SpaceX or NASA – appeared on the internet.” Jacobs spokeswoman Tracy Yates “confirmed that an email was recently sent out to its employees reminding them of the policy prohibiting the release of images related to TOSC or its customer’s activities at the space center.” In a statement, Yates said, “this policy includes a standard warning which states that violation of guidelines could result in disciplinary action up to and including termination and removal from employment.” (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info (Los Angeles Times)
The Los Angeles Times reports that “a video circulating on the internet that appeared to show SpaceX’s astronaut capsule exploding during an April 20 test was leaked from the test area, according to an internal memo issued by a major NASA contractor.” Both “NASA and SpaceX have been tight-lipped about the extent of the damage to the vehicle” following the dissemination of a “grainy video of the explosion” that “shows the Crew Dragon on a test stand at what appears to be Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station” before exploding “while voices are heard shouting expletives.” The email by aerospace company Jacobs said, “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. ... Subsequently, video of the failed test – which was not released by SpaceX or NASA – appeared on the internet.” Jacobs spokeswoman Tracy Yates “confirmed that an email was recently sent out to its employees reminding them of the policy prohibiting the release of images related to TOSC or its customer’s activities at the space center.” In a statement, Yates said, “this policy includes a standard warning which states that violation of guidelines could result in disciplinary action up to and including termination and removal from employment.” (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info (Los Angeles Times)