A recent Falcon 9 booster explosion has been attributed to a fuel leak during its flight. The incident occurred on March 2, when a set of Starlink satellites launched into space, causing the booster to topple after landing on a droneship. According to NASA officials, a fire broke out about 48 seconds after what appeared to be a normal landing of the booster.
The fire resulted in the deterioration of the structural integrity of the landing leg, leading to the explosion. SpaceX and NASA’s Launch Services Program (LSP) reviewed data from the incident and found no concerns or risks for future launches. The SPHEREx/PUNCH launch, originally scheduled for March 8, has been delayed due to launch vehicle issues.
SpaceX engineers are still working to identify the source of the leak, but the company’s director of NASA science missions, Julianna Scheiman, assured that there is no risk to ascent or future launches. The incident occurred when fuel vaporized by a hot engine portion created a flammable environment, leading to the fire.
Despite the setback, NASA officials remain optimistic about the upcoming launch schedule. Steve Stich, NASA commercial crew program manager, stated that the agency will conduct a static fire of the booster on March 9 and examine the maintenance records for any potential issues. The Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station is still scheduled for March 12.
Source: https://spacenews.com/fuel-leak-blamed-for-falcon-9-booster-loss-after-landing