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SpaceX grounded by FAA after Falcon 9 topples, burns on landing barge

By Austin Williams
Published  August 29, 2024 9:51am CDT
SpaceX
FOX TV Digital Team

SpaceX Falcon 9 launch of 22 Starlink satellites

SpaceX Falcon 9 launch of 22 Starlink satellites, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, in Florida.

The Brief 

    • SpaceX launches are temporarily grounded after a booster rocket toppled over in flames during landing.
    • The FAA has ordered an investigation and will approve any corrective action before Falcon 9 launches can resume.
    • The incident occurred after the rocket successfully delivered 21 Starlink satellites to orbit.

SpaceX has hit a snag in its ambitious launch schedule after a booster rocket, which had successfully completed 22 missions before, toppled over in flames during landing. 

This has prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to temporarily halt all Falcon 9 launches as an investigation gets underway.

FAA investigation into SpaceX booster accident: what's next?

  • Rocket’s journey: The Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, successfully deploying 21 Starlink satellites into orbit.
  • The incident: Moments after landing on an ocean platform, the first-stage booster fell over and erupted in flames, marking SpaceX's first such accident in years.
  • Booster details: This booster had launched 23 times, a record for SpaceX’s recycling efforts.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon Resilience capsule sits on Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center ahead of the Polaris Dawn Mission in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on August 28, 2024. 

Impact on upcoming SpaceX and NASA launches

  • FAA investigation: The FAA has grounded Falcon 9 rockets and will oversee the investigation into the accident. SpaceX will need FAA approval of its findings and corrective actions before resuming launches.
  • Upcoming launches affected:A private spaceflight from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, originally scheduled for this week, is now uncertain.NASA’s upcoming astronaut mission, slated for late next month, may also face delays.A California launch with more Starlink satellites was immediately called off following the incident.
  • A private spaceflight from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, originally scheduled for this week, is now uncertain.
  • NASA’s upcoming astronaut mission, slated for late next month, may also face delays.
  • A California launch with more Starlink satellites was immediately called off following the incident.

SpaceX's response to the booster accident

  • Company response: SpaceX’s Jon Edwards, a vice president, stated the company is working "ASAP" to understand what went wrong.
  • Emotional impact: "Losing a booster is always sad. Each one of them has a unique history and character. Thankfully this doesn’t happen often," Edwards shared on X (formerly Twitter).
The Source
This article is based on a report from the Associated Press, including statements from SpaceX and information from the Federal Aviation Administration. This story was reported from Los Angeles.