SpaceX Discovers Cracks Inside Falcon 9 Ahead of NASA Astronaut Launch

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After a flight readiness review stretched late into the evening on Sunday, SpaceX and NASA gave the go ahead for agency's Crew-8 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). As of now, Crew-8 is slated to take to the skies in March, with the mission marking the fifth mission of SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft. SpaceX and NASA shared details about the issues that surfaced at the FRR, with the list of items covering concerns with the Dragon's parachutes and its valves.

NASA, SpaceX Discuss Stiching, Valves & Launch Site Issues Ahead Of Upcoming Astronaut Launch

When compared to SpaceX's other missions, such as the Falcon 9 launch for Starlink satellites that also took off from Florida earlier today, the Dragon launches are rare. The Crew-8 mission will mark SpaceX's first crew launch of the year, and its third launch to the ISS in 2024. Ahead of the launch, SpaceX and NASA had to work together on crucial issues to certify Crew Dragon Endeavour for its fifth launch and give the vehicle the go ahead as part of the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) ahead of other reviews.

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The Crew Dragon Endeavour was the first spacecraft that flew astronauts as part of SpaceX's crewed spaceflight program. Before they could clear the vehicle for its upcoming launch, SpaceX and NASA had to work on several areas to keep astronauts safe. According to NASA's Steve Stitch, this flight in particular involved focus on the vehicle's propellant systems and the associated oxidizer valve corrosion.

He shared:

Apart from the valves, a perennial issue of spaceflight, SpaceX and NASA also worked on off nominal readings for oxidizer at the launch site for a recent mission to ensure that the Falcon 9 was safe to launch with a crew on board. While these covered most of the