In dramatic scenes broadcast live on X, SpaceX’s star rocket Falcon 9 burst into flames as it attempted to touch down on a ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) took action, grounding the rocket after the reusable booster failed to complete its Starlink-launching mission sans mishap, and the decision may have knock-on effects for other planned SpaceX launches.
2 Failures in 2 Months
The FAA’s decision to ground the rocket is not without precedent, as Falcon 9 was previously grounded in July.
Then, it failed mid-launch, causing 23 satellites to be lost. The FAA’s decision was to ground the booster for 15 days.
Close Scrutiny
SpaceX’s travails will be being closely monitored by the Boeing Starliner crew, currently stranded in space after the failed inspection of their return rocket.
The Starliner crew are scheduled to be picked up by SpaceX’s Crew 9 while they undertake a routine mission.
Falcon 9 Mission
Falcon 9 had just finished launching 21 satellites into low-Earth orbit before it attempted to return to the planet.
However, it was unable to complete its mission successfully, as it burst into flames and fell over on its landing pad.
Knock-On
The failure of the mission is likely to have repercussions beyond the planned uses of the Falcon 9 booster in the next few days.
Another SpaceX mission, Polaris Dawn, had intended to take 4 private citizens up into space, has now been delayed.
Polaris Dawn
The mishap means that the Polaris Dawn mission, which would have had billionaire pilot Jason Isaacman on board, has been delayed repeatedly now.
It had previously been set for an August 27 launch date, but was delayed by unfavorable weather conditions on the day.
Live Spectacle
The fire was broadcast live on X, and, as of writing, can still be watched on SpaceX’s official X account.
As can be seen in the playback, only 15 minutes long, up until the landing, the mission had gone smoothly, and all satellites were successfully launched.
Streak Broken
Despite the grounding in July, SpaceX had been maintaining a promising 267 landing streak, dating back to 2021.
The team behind the company’s two boosters, Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, will be disappointed that this streak has now come to an end.
Old Reliable
Falcon 9 had previously been one of SpaceX’s most reliable rockets, making 350 missions since 2010.
However, the FAA’s decision means that the booster has now been grounded twice in as many months.
SpaceX Response
SpaceX responded to the incident on X, confirming that, “after a successful ascent, Falcon 9’s first stage booster tipped over following touchdown”.
They went on to assure their audience that “teams are assessing the booster’s flight data and status.”
