SpaceX Falcon 9 Explosion Report [NASA]

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

Any and all documents describing explosions of the first stage of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. Please include any and all written reports, powerpoint presentations, memoranda, court documents, datasets, CSV files, computer simulation files, and email exchanges, particularly any email exchanges between any NASA staff and SpaceX staff, any communications with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, and any email exchanges between NASA's chief safety officer and any 3rd party contractors or observers. Please search records from February 25, 2010 onwards.

In the event that the contents of the requested documents are classified under Executive Order 13526, I also make the following additional requests:

Pursuant to section 1.2 of Executive Order 13526, I am requesting the level of classification of this information and its existence/nonexistence.

Pursuant to section 1.3 of Executive Order 13526, I am requesting the specific authority which classified this information.

Pursuant to section 1.4 of Executive Order 13526, I am requesting the specific classification categories of this information, as well as an identification or description of the damage to national security which the disclosure of this information would produce.

Pursuant to section 1.5 of Executive Order 13526, I am requesting the specific duration of time for which this classification will stand.

Pursuant to section 1.6 of Executive Order 13526, I am requesting all classification markings about this information, including (1) one of the three classification levels defined in section 1.2 of Executive Order 13526, (2) the identity, by name and position, or by personal identifier, of the original classification authority, (3) the agency and office of origin, if not otherwise evident, (4) declassification instructions, and (5) a concise reason for classification that, at a minimum, cites the applicable classification categories in section 1.4 of Executive Order 13526.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Rich Jones

This request modification is in reference to request 14-HQ-F-00689.

In order to limit the scope of this request, please only respond with the requested communications ("email exchanges, particularly any email exchanges between any NASA staff and SpaceX staff, any communications with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, and any email exchanges between NASA's chief safety officer and any 3rd party contractors or observers"), and any documents about the SpaceX Falcon 9 Explosion which are referred to in those communications.

The existence of those communications has been previously revealed in a widely-distributed article in Esquire magazine by Tom Junod on November 15, 2012, "Triumph of His Will" (located online at http://www.esquire.com/features/americans-2012/elon-musk-interview-1212). The article mentions: "After the second launch, a veteran safety expert e-mailed NASA's chief safety officer and asked him about reports that the first stage of the rocket had exploded. Musk sued the man for $1 million and settled the suit on condition of his retraction and silence."

Please respond with these communications, as well as all related communications between NASA and Elon Musk or other SpaceX employees, as well as any documents referenced in or created as a result of these communications.

Thank you very much!
Rich Jones

ps Have a great weekend!