After a rare incident on a Falcon 9 rocket, flights of SpaceX’s flagship model have been suspended, a setback that could delay key missions, including the first-ever private spacewalk.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets, the most widely used model by Elon Musk’s company, are grounded until further notice after a rare incident, US authorities announced on Wednesday, September 4, 2024.
“He overturned”
The shutdown could delay several missions, including Polaris Dawn, which aims to conduct the first private spacewalk ever. The launch has already been postponed twice, first because of a technical problem and then because of weather. A new date is now pending.
On Wednesday morning, a Falcon 9 rocket carrying Starlink satellites blasted off safely from Florida. The rocket’s first stage descended, as usual, to land on a barge at sea. This technology, essential for SpaceX, allows the reuse of this component and reduces launch costs.
However, this time, video showed the first stage catching fire and flipping sideways upon landing. “He overturned”the company confirmed on X, specifying that this was the 23rd flight of this machine.
Crew-9 mission in sight
The US aviation regulator, the FAA, immediately opened an investigation into the incident. “Resumption of Falcon 9 flights will depend on the FAA’s determination regarding public safety.”the agency said.
The last time such an accident occurred was more than three years ago, and since then, SpaceX has successfully completed more than 260 landings in a row. In July, a Falcon 9 was already suspended for two weeks after a leak on its second stage.
The Crew-9 mission, scheduled for late September, is to carry two astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) for a crew rotation. Two more astronauts are also scheduled to return in February, after a Boeing spacecraft failed to guarantee their safe return.
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