NASA advisers say SpaceX rocket technology could put lives at risk
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When Elon Musk and his team at SpaceX were looking to make their Falcon 9 rocket even more powerful, they came up with a creative idea – keep the propellant at super-cold temperatures to shrink its size, allowing them to pack more of it into the tanks. But the approach comes with a major risk, according to some safety experts. At those extreme temperatures, the propellant would need to be loaded just before takeoff — while astronauts are aboard.
An accident, or a spark, during this maneuver, known as ‘load-and-go,’ could set off an explosion.
Source: chicagotribune.com
