CNN
—
SpaceX’s trusty Falcon 9 rocket, which launches satellites and powers NASA astronauts’ journeys into orbit, experienced a rare malfunction Thursday night while trying to launch a string of internet satellites into orbit.
The accident marked the first malfunction in nearly a decade for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, which plays a vital role in the U.S. and global launch industry as well as NASA’s human spaceflight program.
The Falcon 9 took off from Vandenberg Space Command Center in California at approximately 10:30 p.m. local time on Thursday.
The launch vehicle carried 20 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink network, which already operates through more than 1,000 satellites. 6,000 satellites It was deployed over dozens of launches, according to astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell.
Most of those flights departed without any major issues, but Thursday was different.
The first phase of the mission appeared to be going well, with the Falcon 9 hurtling toward space using its first stage boosters (the nine engines at the bottom of the rocket that provide the initial burst of power at lift-off).
That booster was then separated and safely landed on an offshore platform so SpaceX could repair it and put it back into service.
But the rocket’s second stage, which was designed to ignite after the first stage had fallen and transport the satellite to its final destination in orbit, suddenly malfunctioned for reasons that were not immediately clear.
“Tonight’s Falcon 9 Starlink launch did not complete the second burn of the second stage engine. As a result, Starlink satellites were deployed in a lower orbit than planned,” it said. statement From SpaceX.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk added: post X, formerly known as Twitter, said the second stage didn’t simply fail, but instead experienced what the company called a “RUD,” or “rapid unplanned disintegration,” which usually refers to an explosion.
“The reason is unclear,” Musk’s post read.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which approves commercial rocket launches, said in a statement that it was aware of Thursday’s Falcon 9 malfunction and that “no public injuries or damage to public property have been reported.”
“The FAA is currently evaluating this accident and will issue an updated statement if an investigation is determined to be necessary,” the agency said in a statement.
Thursday’s accident has raised questions about whether SpaceX will have to ground its Falcon 9 rockets at a crucial time for the company and the U.S. space industry.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 plays a vital role in NASA’s human spaceflight program, routinely carrying astronauts into orbit.
It is worth noting that the SpaceX accident was caused by Boeing Starliner vehiclewill join SpaceX in launching astronauts into space, but has experienced some issues during its ongoing first crewed mission.
Starliner has already extended its mission by several weeks as engineers work to determine the cause of a helium leak and thruster problems that occurred on the first leg of the spacecraft’s journey.
While NASA and Boeing officials have said they are confident Starliner can bring crew home, Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager, said Wednesday that SpaceX is an alternative.
“The beauty of the commercial crew program is we have two vehicles,” Stich said, referring to SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Starliner, which regularly launch on the Falcon 9.
“We have a little bit more time to look at the data and determine if we need to do anything differently,” Stich said, referring to the flexibility SpaceX can give to the International Space Station schedule and the Starliner test flights.
SpaceX’s most prolific launch vehicle, the Falcon 9, and its Crew Dragon spacecraft also have notable astronaut missions planned for the coming days, including one to carry tech billionaire Jared Isaacman and a three-person crew into orbit that is expected to include the first-ever spacewalk by a private astronaut.
SpaceX is scheduled to ferry NASA astronauts to the International Space Station in August as part of a long-term contract with NASA.
Musk said the Starlink satellites that launched on Thursday have been deployed but may not stay there for long because they are too close to Earth.
In an update posted after 1:30 a.m. ET, SpaceX Said They had made contact with five of the 20 moons and were attempting to raise their orbits.
“We’re updating the software on the satellites, running their ion thrusters at the equivalent of warp 9,” Musk said. “Unlike a Star Trek episode, this probably won’t work, but it’s worth a try.”
SpaceX says its Starlink satellites are designed to disintegrate as they re-enter the atmosphere, so deorbited satellites shouldn’t pose a danger to people on the ground.
However, recent incidents have involved space debris Unexpectedly survive re-entry.
It’s unclear what impact the incident will have on the future of SpaceX’s Falcon 9. Typically, after a failure, a rocket remains on the ground for months while engineers determine the root cause and ensure the vehicle is safe.
NASA did not immediately respond to CNN on Friday morning. SpaceX also did not respond, but the company does not typically respond to inquiries about news stories.
The last time a Falcon 9 rocket failed in flight was June 2015The rocket crashed during a cargo mission to the International Space Station, after which it was grounded for about six months, before resuming flights in December 2015.
Another problem occurred September 2016The Falcon 9 rocket carrying the satellite exploded on the launch pad before liftoff, after which the rocket didn’t fly for four and a half months.
