- SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket was grounded by the FAA following a rare failure shortly after liftoff, resulting in the loss of 20 Starlink satellites due to an engine explosion caused by a liquid oxygen leak.
- The failure impacts NASA’s upcoming crewed missions and highlights the financial stakes and importance of reliability in the space industry.
OUR TAKE
While SpaceX has played a leading role in space, pushing the boundaries of what private companies can achieve, this failure highlights the inherent risks. The space industry’s future should not hinge on the success of a single entity. Diversifying the investments in space technology and fostering competition is crucial to ensuring resilience and progress.
–Ashley Wang, BTW reporter
What happened
SpaceX‘s Falcon 9 rocket was grounded by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday following a rare failure that resulted in the loss of its payload of Starlink satellites. The mishap, which occurred shortly after liftoff from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, marks the first failure for Falcon 9 in over seven years.
The incident occurred when the rocket’s second stage failed to reignite, deploying 20 Starlink satellites into a shallow orbital path. These satellites are now expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and burn up. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk attributed the failure to an “engine RUD” (Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly), indicating an engine explosion. The company detected a leak of liquid oxygen, a propellant, as the cause.
This grounding of Falcon 9, mandated by the FAA, will remain in effect until SpaceX completes an investigation, resolves the issue, and secures FAA approval. The process could take weeks or months, potentially delaying SpaceX’s intensive launch schedule. The failure interrupted Falcon 9’s impressive streak of over 300 successful missions which underscored its dominance in the global launch industry.
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Why it’s important
The grounding has significant implications, particularly for NASA, which relies on Falcon 9 for crewed missions to the International Space Station. The failure may impact SpaceX’s planned launches, including the Crew Dragon mission in August and the Polaris Dawn mission at the end of July. SpaceX has been a vital player in the space industry, with its Falcon 9 rocket setting a record with 96 launches last year, outpacing China’s total annual launches of 67 missions.
SpaceX has launched approximately 7,000 Starlink satellites since 2018, enhancing global broadband internet access. After an impeccable seven-year streak, this mishap reveals that even industry titans can falter. The incident, resulting in the loss of 20 Starlink satellites valued at around $10 million, highlights the financial stakes and the importance of ensuring reliability in future missions.
