SpaceX, known for its reusable commercial rockets, has achieved remarkable success with its Falcon 9 rocket, setting the standard for other launch operations. The Falcon 9, responsible for launching satellites into low-Earth orbit for commercial entities and space agencies, boasts a long history of flawless launches. However, its recent launch witnessed a failure, breaking this streak and reminding everyone that even the most reliable technology still faces challenges in space. The launch, scheduled for July 11th, took place at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The Falcon 9 carried 20 Starlink satellites intended to augment SpaceX’s communication network. As planned, the booster separated from the rocket and landed on SpaceX’s droneship for reuse. However, a problem arose in the rocket’s upper stage due to a liquid oxygen leak. This leak hindered the expected firing of the Merlin vacuum engine, preventing the completion of the second burn. While the satellites were released, they were not in the correct orbit, leading to their descent back to Earth and eventual burn-up instead of reaching low-Earth orbit as intended.
In a statement, SpaceX disclosed that attempts were made overnight to contact the satellites and initiate early burn commands, but the satellites were left in an extremely high-drag environment just 135 kilometers above Earth. This drag significantly affected their orbital altitude, causing them to descend with each pass through perigee, the lowest point in their orbit. Due to the substantial drag, SpaceX concluded that the available thrust was insufficient to successfully raise the satellites’ orbit. Consequently, the satellites will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and disintegrate completely. SpaceX assured the public that the satellites pose no threat to other satellites in orbit or to public safety.
This marks a rare failure for the Falcon 9 rocket, which has successfully completed 364 launches to date. The last Falcon 9 launch failure occurred in 2016 when a rocket exploded on the launchpad. Following this recent incident, CNBC reports that the Falcon 9 will be grounded until the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) concludes its investigation. The FAA may impose corrective actions before allowing the rocket to launch again.
