FAA grounds SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets until investigation into rare crash landing offshore is complete

The Federal Aviation Administration has grounded SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets pending an investigation into the cause of a first-stage booster failure. collide with a landing ship early Wednesday after helping launch another batch of Starlink internet satellites.

After resign After postponing the manned launch of Polaris Dawn late Tuesday due to an unfavorable long-range forecast, SpaceX pushed ahead with the first of two planned back-to-back launches of Starlink satellites, one from Florida, the other from California.

However, the second flight was aborted after the first stage used during the launch in Florida crashed and plunged into the Atlantic Ocean while attempting to land on a SpaceX drone vehicle stationed several hundred kilometers northeast of Cape Canaveral.

The FAA said an investigation was needed and that SpaceX would effectively ground its Falcon 9 rockets – including the Polaris Dawn rocket – until the probe was completed and corrective measures were approved.

“Resumption of Falcon 9 launch vehicle operations is contingent upon the FAA determining that no system, process or procedure related to the anomaly compromises public safety,” the FAA said in a statement.

“In addition, SpaceX may need to apply to and receive approval from the FAA for a license modification that includes any corrective actions and satisfies all other license requirements,” the agency said.

Late Tuesday, SpaceX postponed the launch of the Polaris Dawn MissionA commercial flight that will be the first non-governmental spacewalk has been delayed until Friday at the earliest due to splashdown weather forecast for the end of the mission. The launch is now postponed indefinitely until the landing mishap is investigated.

The failed landing ended a streak of 267 successful booster recoveries in a row dating back to February 2021. However, the Falcon 9’s second stage successfully launched 21 Starlink internet satellites into their planned orbit.

The landing of the first stage proceeded normally until the moment of touchdown, when more flames than usual became visible around the missile base as it approached the deck. One of the landing legs collapsed immediately upon touchdown and the booster unit, obscured by fire and smoke, tipped over the side of the dropship into the Atlantic Ocean.

“Following a successful ascent, the Falcon 9 first stage tumbled after landing on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas,” SpaceX said on social media. “Teams are reviewing flight data and booster status.”

It was the 23rd launch and final landing of the first stage B1062, a new reuse record. SpaceX is working to certify the first stages of its Falcon 9 for up to 40 flights each.

Shortly after the Starlink rockets were deployed in Florida, the company canceled the launch scheduled for 5:58 a.m. EDT in California to give engineers more time to review telemetry and video footage and look for signs of problems that could affect other rockets.

“We are backing out of our second @Starlink launch of the night to give the team time to review booster landing data from the previous launch,” SpaceX said. “A new scheduled launch date will be announced when it is available.”