Worldwide's Conway Looks at Aftermath of SpaceX Rocket Explosion

Situations like the recent loss of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will usually result in the assembly of an accident investigation team, said Bruce Conway, a professor of engineering sciences at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Worldwide.

Conway said that in all likelihood the team would have immediately put into place several procedures to secure all data associated with the incident so that they can begin to review the procedures and documentation associated with the manufacture, transport, testing, and storage of the rocket itself.

“As with NASA, Orbital ATK and other launch outfits, they will likely want to provide as much information as they can in a formal briefing that will take place usually within 24-48 hours,” said Conway, who began his professional career with NASA and served as Assistant Chief of the Flight Electronics Division at NASA - Langley, where he managed electronics and instrumentation research and applications to spacecraft and aircraft flight experiments.

Conway believes that the Sept. 1 incident in which the Falcon 9 rocket and its commercial satellite payload were lost in a launch pad explosion during an engine test will most likely result in a several-month hiatus for their program.

“I believe they had around a seven- to eight-month period after their last failure in June 2015,” said Conway.

And in the aftermath of the loss, Conway says that other launchers like Orbital ATK will be going back through their documentation, testing, and handling processes to make sure they have taken every possible precaution.

But Conway also explained that while mishaps like this should not be overlooked, they should also not strike fear into anyone regarding space flight.

“Commercial spaceflight is still a relatively young enterprise, and there will likely be more accidents,” said Conway. “SpaceX will recover, just as NASA, United Launch Alliance and others have recovered.”