SpaceX Completes Rocket Explosion Investigation, Aims for Jan. 8 Launch

In a statement posted on the SpaceX website Jan. 2, the company said the explosion was caused by the failure of one of three helium tanks, known as composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs), inside the liquid oxygen tank in the rocket’s second stage. Other COPVs recovered from the Falcon 9 showed buckling of their liners, although what caused the buckling isn't stated. SpaceX said that the buckling, in and of itself, did not cause the tanks to fail.