The 2016 Falcon 9 explosion, a dramatic event that destroyed a satellite and sent a fireball into the Florida sky, initially baffled investigators. Amid the scramble for answers, one particularly outlandish theory emerged: a sniper attack. This theory, surprisingly championed by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, even drew the attention of federal agencies.
This intriguing tale is detailed in Reentry, a book by veteran space reporter Eric Berger, which chronicles SpaceX’s early years. The explosion, occurring during a routine static fire test at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on September 1, 2016, obliterated the Amos-6 communications satellite and left SpaceX searching for an explanation. The cause wasn’t immediately apparent, leading to several theories, including the improbable sniper hypothesis. Berger recently shed new light on this theory, thanks to information uncovered through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
The explosion’s aftermath saw SpaceX engineers trying to replicate the event, even firing at helium tanks to understand potential rupture scenarios and explosion patterns. This experimentation stemmed from the discovery that a helium tank had exploded during the wet dress rehearsal. Musk, seemingly suspicious of rival United Launch Alliance (ULA), even directed employees to investigate a ULA building near the launch site, fueling the narrative of sabotage.
The sniper theory persisted for approximately a month. However, according to a letter obtained by Berger through his FOIA request, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) eventually informed SpaceX that no gunman was involved. The letter revealed that SpaceX had provided video and audio evidence, along with their own analysis, suggesting the possibility of sabotage or criminal activity. The situation escalated further when SpaceX, convinced of foul play, contacted the FBI’s Tampa Field Office. Despite the company’s suspicions, the FBI investigation found no evidence of criminal involvement.
Ultimately, the true cause of the explosion was traced back to the rapid loading of super-chilled helium into the rocket’s pressurized tanks. This seemingly mundane procedural error led to the catastrophic failure.
At the time, SpaceX was still establishing itself in the space industry. The loss of the Falcon 9 and its payload was a significant setback. Nine years later, the company has emerged as a dominant force, surpassing some of its early competitors, including ULA. The 2016 explosion, and the unusual sniper theory surrounding it, serves as a reminder of the challenges and unexpected twists in the pursuit of space exploration.
