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The United States Congress has called for a transparent investigation into the failure of Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft moment after launch. The Federal Aviation Administration is leading the investigation into the failed launch when the abort system kicked in after the booster developed a technical anomaly and was lost.
Just over a minute after launching from Launch Site One in West Texas, the spacecraft triggered an emergency abort, which activated the escape system, jettisoning the crew capsule away from the booster. While the capsule and the system is used by Jeff-Bezos led Blue Origin to launch humans into space, there was no crew onboard during the launch.
The US Congressional leaders of the House Science Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics in their letter asserted the seriousness of the situation and noted the important role the Committee has in conducting oversight of such matters and asked for a briefing.
Booster failure on today’s uncrewed flight. Escape system performed as designed. pic.twitter.com/xFDsUMONTh
“We request that the Associate Administrator of the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation keep the Members of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics appraised of the plans and timetable for the NS-23 anomaly investigation, the root cause of the failure once determined, and plans to ensure that actions to address the root cause or causes are completed,” the letter read.
Also Read | Blue Origin rocket exploded midair, but Crew Escape System saved mission
The spacecraft launched on September 12 was carrying 36 payloads from academia, research institutions, and students across the globe into space, which came down thudding to the surface of the planet under a parachute. Two of the payloads were flying on the exterior of the New Shepard booster for ambient exposure to the space environment.
“During today’s flight, the capsule escape system successfully separated the capsule from the booster. The booster impacted the ground. There are no reported injuries; all personnel have been accounted for,” Blue Origin said in a statement following the failed mission.
Blue Origin blamed the close shave on a booster failure on the uncrewed flight and added “Escape system performed as designed.”
All the flights have been grounded till the investigation is completed.
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