US-based privately owned firm SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule has reportedly suffered an anomaly during engine tests at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
According to Florida Today, the anomaly led to orange smoke rising above SpaceX’s facilities.
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The Crew Dragon capsule is designed to transport American astronauts into space.
A SpaceX spokesperson was quoted by the publication as saying: “Earlier today, SpaceX conducted a series of engine tests on a Crew Dragon test vehicle on our test stand at Landing Zone 1 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The initial tests completed successfully but the final test resulted in an anomaly on the test stand.”
SpaceX and Boeing have been selected by Nasa to build rocket and capsule systems to launch astronauts into orbit from America.
Nasa has been taking assistance from Russia to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) since the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2011.
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By GlobalDataSpaceX and Nasa expect to send astronauts to the ISS aboard a Crew Dragon capsule by the end of this year.
If the mission is accomplished, it will be the first US launch of American astronauts aboard a US spacecraft since 2011.
SpaceX told Reuters that an investigation is underway and that its teams are coordinating with Nasa partners.
Nasa administrator Jim Bridenstine wrote on Twitter: “Nasa has been notified about the results of the SpaceX Static Fire Test and the anomaly that occurred during the final test.
“This is why we test. We will learn, make the necessary adjustments and safely move forward with our Commercial Crew Program.”
In March, SpaceX successfully launched an unscrewed capsule to the ISS.
