A problem arose with SpaceX's latest mission with the Falcon 9 and this led to the FAA launching its investigation on the spacecraft and is temporarily suspended from further missions. The Falcon 9 faced an engine failure after it launched this Thursday from California's Vandenberg's Space Force Base, with this mission centered on delivering Starlink satellites to orbit.
For many years, the Falcon 9 remained as the company's workhorse which saw multiple successful flights, making this one of the rare times it saw a mishap.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 Temporarily Suspended After Recent Launch Issue
(Photo : CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
The July 11 mission of SpaceX's Falcon 9 which focused on delivering the Starlink satellites to orbit saw an issue as it is climbing towards space, leading to the rocket facing a temporary suspension from the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA).
SpaceX co-founder and CEO, Elon Musk, shared an update on X amidst the mission, claiming that an engine RUD manifested on its upper-stage rocket. Later on, it was revealed that the Falcon 9's upper second stage developed a leak mid-flight, leading to the rocket's engine failing to reignite.
According to Musk, the Group 9-3 mission's Starlink satellites were deployed but were too low to make it into orbit. SpaceX later explained that it was left in a "high-drag environment" and was deployed at only 135 kilometers from the Earth's surface, with the Starlink satellites failing to reach orbit and re-enter the planet's atmosphere to disintegrate.
FAA to Launch Investigation on Falcon 9's Mishap Before Next Flight
SpaceX explained that it is now coordinating with the FAA to investigate the flight's mishap, with the Falcon 9 temporarily grounded. The company will fully cooperate with the FAA in this investigation, but it remains unknown if there would be corrective actions needed for the Falcon 9 before it resumes carrying out missions for SpaceX, similar to Starship's previous license requirements.
SpaceX and Its Falcon 9 Workhorse
The Falcon 9 is the main rocket of the company for launching missions, and in December 2023, it recorded a historic 19th landing, but shortly ended its streak as it fell to the sea because of bad weather, after a mission.
Apart from its missions to launch Starlink satellites to orbit, SpaceX's Falcon 9 is also known for being the main rocket used for NASA's Commercial Crew missions for several years now, transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station together with the Dragon capsule.
Moreover, it is also used by other companies who want to deliver a payload to orbit, and it does not matter who they are, even if these are rivals to its offered services.
Over the past years, SpaceX was not able to follow up on Starship but this does not mean the company has no more other options, as the Falcon 9 has always been there to carry out commercial missions or for Starlink. However, a new mishap occurred during its latest flight, with the leak on its upper second stage causing the problem, now temporarily grounded and pending an FAA investigation before its return.
