Twenty Starlink satellites were deployed too early and fell back to Earth after a SpaceX launch failure.
The satellites were launched from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base on 11 July on a Falcon 9 rocket operated by SpaceX. They disintegrated in the atmosphere.
As predicted, the rocket took off, and the first stage separated without a hitch. However, because of a liquid oxygen leak, the second stage was unable to finish its second burn.
Professionals are investigating what went wrong, so the rockets will stay grounded until more information can be obtained.
The first stage of the rocket detachment from the satellite-laden second stage and subsequent landing on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean occurred as planned during the launch. The second stage, however, was stuck in a low Earth orbit after the second burn failure because of the liquid oxygen leak.
The satellites started to descend to Earth by around 3 miles (5 km), with each completing orbit at this altitude due to atmospheric drag.
Despite the second stage failure, the cargo was discharged. The team took control of the majority of the satellites and instructed them to fire at maximum thrust, or “warp 9,” in a final effort to get back into orbit. Unfortunately, the satellites were still lost.
All twenty satellites burned. Harvard University astronomer Jonathan McDowell verified the event.
This was the most significant loss of Starlink satellites since a geomagnetic storm took down forty satellites in February 2022, just after they were sent into Earth orbit. It was also the first Falcon 9 launch failure since 2016.
SpaceX is currently investigating the incident, which is being overseen by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Until this inquiry is finished, the business cannot launch any further Falcon 9 rockets.
The length of time that SpaceX’s flagship vehicle, the Falcon 9 rocket, will be grounded is uncertain. If the delay is significant, the company’s launch timetable for 2024 could need to be modified.
