According to the AP, the investigative panel for the failure of the maiden Falcon 1 flight has issued its report. In pertinent part...
The Falcon 1 rocket, built by Space Explorations Technologies, launched March 24 from the Pacific island of Kwajalein Atoll. But the fire caused the rocket to fail 34 seconds after liftoff, investigators found.
The review determined that "the only plausible cause" of the fire was a corroded aluminum nut that allowed fuel to leak onto the main engine. The fire then caused a loss of pressure that shut down the engine.
The salt water mist of Kwajalein must be a killer. Apparently, it wasn't launch crew error, after all. The solution?
[A]luminum nuts have now been replaced with ones made of stainless steel.
Seems pretty straightforward. Next launch expected in November.
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