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takyon [soylentnews.org] writes:

SpaceX's controversial rocket fueling procedure appears 'viable,' says NASA safety advisory panel [latimes.com]

A NASA safety advisory group weighed in Thursday on SpaceX's highly scrutinized proposal to load rocket propellants while astronauts are aboard, saying it appears to be a "viable option."

Several members of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel said that as long as potential hazards can be controlled, loading crew before fueling is finished could be acceptable.

"My sense is that, assuming there are adequate, verifiable controls identified and implemented for the credible hazard causes, and those which could potentially result in an emergency situation ... it appears load-and-go is a viable option for the program to consider," panel member Capt. Brent Jett Jr. (Ret.) said during Thursday's meeting.

SpaceX and Boeing Co. each have NASA contracts to develop separate crew capsules to transport astronauts to the International Space Station. Both SpaceX and Boeing are scheduled to conduct uncrewed flight tests of their vehicles in August, with crewed flight tests set for several months later.

A Falcon 9 blew up during propellant loading in 2016.

Previously: NASA Advisory Committee Skeptical of SpaceX Manned Refueling Plan [soylentnews.org]

Related: SpaceX Identifies Cause of September Explosion [soylentnews.org]
Problems With SpaceX Falcon 9 Design Could Delay Manned Missions [soylentnews.org]

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