A SpaceX rocket recently experienced its first failure in nearly a decade, resulting in the misplacement of 20 Starlink satellites in an orbit too low to be sustained. The Falcon 9 rocket took off from California but encountered an upper stage engine malfunction shortly after launch, attributed to a liquid oxygen leak by SpaceX.
Efforts were made to contact and adjust the satellites to a higher orbit using onboard ion thrusters. However, due to the low altitude of only 84 miles above Earth, significantly lower than intended, it is unlikely that there will be enough thrust to save the satellites. Consequently, they are expected to reenter the atmosphere and burn up, with no specific timeline provided for this occurrence.
The incident has prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to mandate the resolution of the problem before Falcon rockets can resume flights. While it remains unclear how this setback might affect upcoming crewed missions, including a private spaceflight set for July 31 and an astronaut flight to the International Space Station in mid-August, SpaceX’s Elon Musk expressed confidence in the Falcon 9’s reliability and safety features.
Despite this failure, Musk emphasized that SpaceX’s frequent launch schedule will facilitate the identification and rectification of any issues that may arise in the future. This event serves as a reminder of the complexities and risks associated with space travel, highlighting the need for continuous improvements and vigilance in the aerospace industry.
