A cloud of orange smoke rose over Cape Canaveral Air Force Station April 20, 2019, when the SpaceX Dragon 2 capsule exploded during an engine test. (Craig Bailey/AP)An investigation into what caused the SpaceX capsule to blow up in April during an engine test has pinpointed a faulty valve that caused a propellant leak, a company official said Monday. SpaceX is designing the Dragon spacecraft to ferry NASA’s astronauts to and from the International Space Station. In March, it completed a successful test flight, sending the spacecraft, without anyone on board, to the station. The spacecraft exploded after the leak into an internal pressure system, leaving NASA and SpaceX with another setback in a program that has seen several.

Source: Washington Post July 15, 2019 21:22 UTC