Orbital ATK Vs Aerojet over Antares Explosion Cause
Orbital, GenCorp spar over cause of October rocket crash, Reuters
“Orbital ATK Inc and engine maker GenCorp Inc on Tuesday offered competing explanations for what caused the Oct. 28 explosion of Orbital’s Antares rocket, bound for the International Space Station. Ronald Grabe, Orbital’s executive vice president and president of its flight systems group, told the annual Space Symposium conference that an investigation led by his company had concluded the explosion was caused by excessive wear in the bearings of the GenCorp engine. GenCorp said its own probe showed that the wear in the bearings was likely caused by debris in the engine.”
Report: Environmental impact of Wallops explosion, DelMarva Now
“Despite initial concerns, and ash that rained down in the area, a final report on the environmental impact of the explosion shows only two recommendations moving forward — a groundwater study, and possible continued monitoring. The Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority report also details the steps taken after the explosion to contain any adverse impacts. While Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper Jay Ford said he was concerned immediately following the explosion, he was impressed with the federal reaction.”
Okay… Antares RTF is moving further and further away as it looks like GenCorp and Orbital-ATK are going to spend a considerable amount of time in mutual litigation.
Seems like a stupid thing to litigate over. Both said the same part is what caused the accident. Whether it was imperfections in the refurb department or debris that got into it, the same conclusion was reached. Excessive wear in the bearings. But what does it matter? They plan on replacing these Russian Engines with Different, newer…. Russian engines.
In an accident, I thought the first rule of Public Relations was to assign blame. Remember the finger pointing after the Gulf oil spill?
It determines who pays the bill.
Actually, they are not saying the same thing at all. Orbital is alleging the engine was delivered with faulty bearings that caused the explosion. GenCorp is alleging that debris from Orbital’s Antares rocket contaminated their engine causing bearing failure. These are two very different causal faults – and with it lies the burden of responsibility, not to mention reputation.
Any way to prove it either way?
Advanced materials analysis should shed some light on whether the bearings had fatigued due to use/time degradation or whether they seized due to blockage caused by FOD. It will be interesting to see the final technical reports and the FAA assessment. As negatively impactful it is to bear the responsibility for the failure, my guess is that Orbital has more to lose, and invariably more reason to try and assert contractor fault than accept responsibility.
Turbopumps are probably the most volatile aspect of rocket design, but I would suspect that unless these pumps were not inspected or hot fire tested (which is standard protocol), FOD from the vehicle is the likely culprit. So unless some evidence has yet to be uncovered or a full analysis has yet to be performed, someone is trying to play blame game to get ahead of the repercussions, hoping the other party simply caves.
FOD = foreign object debris???
Yes, you are correct. FOD = foreign object debris
It’s a shame the venerable NK-33 has to go out with this cloud above it.
BUT one question I do have is this: Do BOTH agree there was debris in the fuel tanks? If yes, then I’d favor the GenCorp analysis.
Many years ago when I was a younger and arguably less temperate person I was involved in an auto accident. The accident wasn’t my fault, but the other party came out of the car when the police arrived screaming like a banshee about how I did this and that and that she was a victim.
I learned something from that event; the cop ticketed me, not her.
Well, she was sitting in a parked car in her garage when the accident occured…