SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket has been grounded by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) following a failed landing attempt on August 28, 2024. This incident, which saw the rocket’s booster tip over and burst into flames after successfully launching 21 Starlink satellites, marks the second time in two months that the Falcon 9 has been grounded.
The FAA is conducting an investigation to determine the root cause of the mishap and ensure that any future launches do not compromise public safety. This grounding has already delayed upcoming missions, including the Polaris Dawn mission, which aims to conduct the first spacewalks by an all-civilian crew.
SpaceX has faced similar setbacks before, with the Falcon 9 being grounded in July after an upper stage malfunction. The company will need to address these issues before the Falcon 9 can return to flight.
After sending 21 Starlink satellites on their way to orbit, Falcon 9 booster 1062, making its 23rd flight, tipped over and exploded as it landed on the drone ship 'A Shortfall of Gravitas'. It was the first Falcon 9 landing failure since Feb. 2021. Watch a replay of our live… pic.twitter.com/Dquqk2DL2R
— Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) August 28, 2024