Travis Longcore Qutoed in Tech Times: Elon Musk Says Alcohol Caused SpaceX Engine Failure; Launches Falcon 9’s 84th Flight

Elon Musk, CEO and founder of SpaceX, said on Twitter on Wednesday, April 22, that the failure of a single Merlin engine in the most recent Starlink launch was due to a “small amount” of isopropyl alcohol that ignited during the flight.  This is Starlink’s seventh mission sending off a total of 422 satellites for the growing broadband network. The company’s goal is to have more than 1,000 satellites in orbit by yearend. However, the astronomers slammed the company’s actions, which they tagged as an injustice to humanity.  “Starlink is a crime against humanity; it robs us of the skies of our ancestors to every corner of the earth,” wrote Travis Longcore, associate adjunct professor of UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability.