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An engine malfunction has prevented a Falcon 9 rocket from delivering its payload to orbit. This incident is a rare setback for SpaceX’s reliable vehicle, which has completed over 300 successful launches since its debut in 2010.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 10:35 p.m. ET on Thursday, carrying a batch of 20 Starlink satellites. Things were going according to plan until it came time for the rocket’s second stage to perform an engine burn, which it failed to do, thereby deploying the satellites to a lower orbit than intended, SpaceX wrote on X. “SpaceX has made contact with 5 of the satellites so far and is attempting to have them raise orbit using their ion thrusters,” the company added.
Upper stage restart to raise perigee resulted in an engine RUD for reasons currently unknown. Team is reviewing data tonight to understand root cause.
Starlink satellites were deployed, but the perigee may be too low for them to raise orbit. Will know more in a few hours.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 12, 2024
During the live broadcast of the launch, observers noticed an unusual buildup of ice on the engine’s cover. “Upper stage restart to raise perigee resulted in an engine RUD [rapid unscheduled disassembly] for reasons currently unknown,” SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wrote on X. “Team is reviewing data tonight to understand root cause.” Musk’s comment suggests the vehicle broke apart after reaching space.
Falcon 9 has been grounded following the incident, pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on SpaceX’s investigation into the unusual event, CNBC reported. “The FAA will be involved in every step of the investigation process and must approve SpaceX’s final report, including any corrective actions,” the agency told CNBC in a statement.
Falcon 9’s winning streak is over
The engine anomaly is unusual for SpaceX’s workhorse rocket. Falcon 9 has 354 launches under its belt, with 68 liftoffs this year so far. Musk’s space venture is aiming for a record-breaking 148 launches of its Falcon 9 rocket in 2024, topping the 98 missions of 2023. Falcon 9’s previous malfunction took place in September 2016, when the rocket exploded while still on the launch pad.
Falcon 9 has consistently provided space agencies and private companies with reliable access to orbit. With a packed schedule for the remainder of the year, its grounding could temporarily disrupt the industry. Of note, Falcon 9 is scheduled to launch billionaire space enthusiast Jared Isaacman on private mission Polaris Dawn on July 31. SpaceX is now actively investigating the root cause of the latest malfunction to address this setback.
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