“The FAA is aware an anomaly occurred during the SpaceX Starlink Group 8-6 mission that launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Aug. 28,” said the Federal Aviation Administration in a statement this week.
It added that an investigation into the incident will be required. So far, the FAA revealed that it involved the failure of the SpaceX Falcon 9 booster rocket while landing on a droneship at sea. No injuries or property damage were reported.
According to Reuters, the FAA said Wednesday that the Falcon 9 had been grounded for the second time this year following the fiery incident. It occurred during a routine landing after the Falcon 9 was able to successfully launch 21 Starlink satellites into orbit, per SpaceX.
Space X said “the first stage booster tipped over following touchdown on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship,” and that it was the booster’s 23rd launch.
“The first stage landing appeared normal until the moment of touchdown when more flames than usual were visible around the base of the rocket as it neared the deck,” CBS News reported. “A landing leg immediately collapsed on touchdown and the booster, obscured by fire and smoke, tipped over the side of the landing barge into the Atlantic Ocean.”
Another launch planned in California was halted, said SpaceX on X.
“Groundings of Falcon 9, a rocket that much of the Western world relies on to put satellites and humans in space, are rare,” said Reuters.
“The rocket was last grounded in July for the first time since 2016, following a second-stage failure in space that doomed a batch of Starlink satellites.”
After the grounding SpaceX returned Falcon 9 to flight 15 days later, with FAA approval.
Polaris Dawn, a SpaceX mission that was previously scheduled for this week, could be impacted by the FAA’s Falcon 9 investigation, said the outlet. Polaris Dawn is intended to be a multi-day mission into obit where the crew will attempt to reach the highest Earth orbit since the Apollo program and the first private spacewalk. SpaceX’s website said Thursday that it was standing down from the Polaris Dawn launch due to unfavorable weather.
“SpaceX teams will continue to monitor weather for favorable launch and return conditions,” it said. Reuters also reported that the mission was delayed due to a launchpad hitch.
Another mission that the Falcon 9 is expected to tackle is the safe return of two astronauts that have been stranded at the International Space Station. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams arrived at the orbiting laboratory on June 6 in Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Due to issues with the vessel, they haven’t been able to leave in it.
Reuters said the Falcon 9 is expected to launch the mission late next month on a Crew Dragon spacecraft that will eventually bring the astronauts home.
“NASA regulates Falcon 9 for its own missions. It was not immediately clear how the rocket's latest grounding will affect that NASA mission,” the outlet explained. “The U.S. space agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.”