SpaceXSpaceX experiencing a new problem with the second floor of the Falcon 9Falcon 9. Already on July 11, a leak of liquid oxygen had led to the failure of the implementation orbitorbit about twenty satellites StarlinkStarlink telecommunications in low orbit.
This time, theanomaliesanomalies took place during ignition of the second stage main engine during the deorbit phase. In the first part of the flight, the second stage had perfectly placed the Dragon Crew 9 spacecraft into orbit for the NasaNasa. The Crew 9 crew has also been reduced from four to two astronautsastronautsthe free seats will be occupied on the return by the astronauts of the Starliner spacecraft, which left theISSISS without them for security reasons.
Three incidents in three months
In recent years, SpaceX has racked up hundreds of successes with the Falcon 9. But these close incidents with the second stage propulsion raise questions. Are they isolated or coincident? Remember that, although the period is short, SpaceX has had time to make 23 launches since the July incident. Also note that on August 28, the landing of the first stage of a Falcon 9 also failed.
Falcon 9 flights are therefore once again suspended while the investigation into the sources of the anomaly is completed. Just like they had been in July for 15 days.
