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FAA Suspends SpaceX Launches After Falcon 9's Failed Sea Landing

AInvestThursday, Aug 29, 2024 2:55 am ET
2min read

On Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that SpaceX's Falcon 9 failed to land upon returning to Earth during a routine Starlink mission, and it has asked SpaceX to suspend the rocket launches. This marks the second time this year that the company has faced a halt in flights.

It is reported that in the early morning of Wednesday, SpaceX's Falcon 9 successfully placed a batch of Starlink internet satellites into orbit from Florida. However, the live stream from SpaceX showed that the reusable first-stage booster of the rocket caught fire and eventually tumbled into the ocean while attempting to land on an unmanned barge as usual. This is the first failed landing of the Falcon 9 since February 2021.

A spokesperson for the FAA stated that the Falcon 9 booster experienced a malfunction during the landing on the unmanned barge at sea, and there were no reports of public casualties or property damage. The FAA has called for an investigation into the incident.

SpaceX pointed out that After a successful ascent, Falcon 9's first stage booster tipped over following touchdown on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship.

The last suspension of the Falcon 9 was in July this year - the first since 2016 - when the second stage of the rocket experienced a malfunction in space, leading to the destruction of a batch of Starlink satellites.

Although there was no loss of satellites or personal injury during Wednesday's flight, the failed landing still indicates an issue with the rocket. The FAA tends to believe that without a thorough investigation, there could be greater risks in future missions.

Obviously, the suspension of the rocket could further delay the launch of SpaceX's highly anticipated Polaris Dawn mission, in which four private astronauts are preparing to attempt the first commercial spacewalk for humans.

The Polaris Dawn mission was originally scheduled to launch on Tuesday of this week but was postponed due to launch pad malfunctions and then again due to bad weather.

The Falcon 9 was also previously scheduled to send two NASA astronauts into space on the Crew Dragon spacecraft in late September so that they could go to the International Space Station. This Crew Dragon spacecraft is currently the hope for the return of two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station.

American astronauts Wilmore and Williams went to the International Space Station on June 5th, aboard the first manned test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, but due to issues such as thruster failures and helium leaks, the return time has been repeatedly postponed. NASA stated last Saturday that due to risks associated with Boeing's Starliner, the two stranded astronauts on the International Space Station will return to Earth on SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft in February 2025.

Whether the latest suspension of the Falcon 9 will jeopardize the launch of the Crew Dragon in late September is currently unknown. The last suspension of the Falcon 9 in July lasted about 15 days from suspension to resumption.

Since the first launch of the Falcon rocket in 2010, SpaceX has established a fleet of reusable Falcons, which has greatly exceeded its competitors in launch frequency. SpaceX wrote on its website that the booster that failed on Wednesday was on its 23rd flight.

Another Starlink satellite launch mission was also planned to be launched soon from another SpaceX launch site in Southern California, but SpaceX has canceled this mission after the latest rocket landing failure.

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