SpaceX has encountered yet another issue with its Falcon 9 rocket, resulting in a halt to future launches. The latest problem occurred during the “Crew-9” mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Although the rocket successfully transported two astronauts to the ISS, it faced a malfunction during its second-stage reentry.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
SpaceX revealed that while the Falcon 9’s second stage was disposed of in the ocean, as planned, the deorbit burn didn’t go as expected. This caused the second stage to land outside its target area in the ocean. Though this didn’t pose a safety threat, the company has decided to pause future launches until it understands the root cause of the issue. It’s important to note that while the first stage of the Falcon 9 is reusable, the second stage is not.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not yet commented on the situation. However, the agency could potentially step in to ground Falcon 9 launches pending further investigation.
Delays like this one could affect SpaceX’s launch schedule, including upcoming Starlink satellite missions. One of the more pressing projects involves launching satellites to support a beta service for SpaceX’s Starlink cellular system for phones, planned for later this year. The setback follows another incident just months ago when a Falcon 9 rocket failed to deliver Starlink satellites due to a liquid oxygen leak in the second stage. In that instance, SpaceX traced the issue to a failed sensor, which has since been removed from the remaining fleet of Falcon 9 rockets.
The recent problems have occurred in both the second and first stages of the Falcon 9. Just last month, the first stage booster missed its landing on a drone ship, resulting in a fiery crash. While SpaceX was cleared to resume launches shortly after, the FAA continues to investigate the cause of these recurring issues.
TF Summary: What’s Next?
With two Falcon 9 incidents in as many months, SpaceX faces ongoing challenges in maintaining its launch schedule. The company will need to thoroughly investigate the recent issues before it can resume operations, and it remains to be seen whether the FAA will impose stricter regulations. The delays could also impact SpaceX’s Starlink and crewed missions, potentially pushing back some of its more ambitious plans.
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