NASA to participate in SpaceX engine anomaly investigation

[Elderberry]

Space News by Jeff Foust — March 24, 2020

NASA representatives will be part of an ongoing SpaceX investigation into an engine anomaly on a recent Falcon 9 launch as the company prepares for a Crew Dragon mission carrying two NASA astronauts.

NASA spokesman Josh Finch said March 24 that personnel from NASA’s commercial crew program will be represented in SpaceX’s investigation of an engine that prematurely shut down during a March 18 launch of 60 Starlink satellites. That participation is intended to comply with provisions in SpaceX’s Commercial Crew Transportation Capability, or CCtCap, contract with NASA.

“According to the CCtCap contracts, SpaceX is required to make available to NASA all data and resulting reports,” Finch said. “SpaceX, with NASA’s concurrence, would need to implement any corrective actions found during the investigation related to its commercial crew work prior to its flight test with astronauts to the International Space Station.”

During the March 18 launch, one of nine Merlin engines in the rocket’s first stage shut down early. Elon Musk, chief executive of SpaceX, said in tweets shortly after the launch that the malfunction did not affect the rocket’s ability to place the Starlink satellites into their planned orbit, as SpaceX has frequently touted the “engine-out” redundancy of the vehicle. However, Musk said that a “thorough investigation” would be required before the rocket’s next launch.

More: https://spacenews.com/nasa-to-participate-in-spacex-engine-anomaly-investigation/