Falcon 9 Rocket Unsafe?

Sean Gill

Engineers at NASA are convinced that the "load and go" method that SpaceX is using is unsafe to the astronauts on board. This fueling method consists of fuel that is very cold, in order to compress the fuel in order to pack more into the tanks. The only way that this is possible if the fuel is added just before takeoff, so it does not have time to "thaw" out. NASA is convinced that this method holds too many risks, one which was scene in September of 2016 when a Falcon 9 blew up during fueling before an engine test. No lives were list, but NASA is convinced that this untraditional way of space travel is not worth the lives of the astronauts. Last year, SpaceX had 18 successful flights and 2 flights that ended in explosion. A human has not been on board a Falcon 9 rocket yet.

This could mean that our space traveling to different planets could be in jeopardy. For the time being, there is no true safe way to reuse the same rocket over and over again. This means that space traveling will not get much cheaper in the future until a safe way to reuse and refuel rockets is found. NASA and SpaceX are discussing ways that SpaceX can refuel safely in order to not put any lives in danger.