An investigation is underway after a SpaceX rocket failure resulted in the loss of 20 Starlink satellites. The incident occurred when the second stage of the Falcon 9 rocket failed to fire properly, leaving the satellites stranded in a low orbit around Earth. Observations have confirmed that all 20 satellites burned up in the upper atmosphere after falling back to Earth.
The rocket launch took place on July 11 at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. While the first stage successfully detached and landed on a drone ship, the second stage experienced a liquid oxygen leak, preventing it from completing its second burn. This led to the satellites being stuck in an elliptical orbit with a minimum altitude of 84 miles, causing them to fall back to Earth at a rate of 3 miles per orbit.
Despite efforts to regain altitude by performing burns at maximum thrust, known as “warp 9,” the satellites could not be saved. All 20 satellites ultimately met a fiery demise on July 12, according to astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell.
SpaceX is now conducting an investigation into the incident under the supervision of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The company will not be able to launch any more Falcon 9 rockets until the investigation is complete. This grounding could potentially last for months, impacting the company’s launch schedule for the rest of the year.
This marks the first Falcon 9 launch failure since 2016 and the largest single loss of Starlink satellites since February 2022. Despite the setback, SpaceX has reassured that the re-entering spacecraft did not pose a threat to other satellites or public safety.
The incident highlights the risks and challenges involved in space exploration and satellite deployment. It also underscores the importance of thorough investigations to prevent future failures and ensure the safety of space missions. As SpaceX works to determine the cause of the rocket failure, the aerospace industry will be closely monitoring the developments and implications of this incident.
