Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
FAA Grounds SpaceX After Rocket Falls Over in Flames at Landing
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 4 months ago on
August 28, 2024

SpaceX faces setback as FAA grounds Falcon 9 rockets following a booster's fiery landing accident off Florida's coast. (AP/SpaceX)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION — SpaceX launches are on hold after a booster rocket toppled over in flames while landing Wednesday.

The Federal Aviation Administration grounded the company’s Falcon 9 rockets and ordered an investigation following the predawn accident off the Florida coast. No injuries or public damage were reported.

It’s too early to know how much impact this will have on SpaceX’s upcoming crew flights, one private and the other for NASA. A billionaire’s chartered flight was delayed just a few hours earlier because of a poor weather forecast.

The rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and got all 21 Starlink internet satellites to orbit. But the first-stage booster fell over in a fireball moments after landing on an ocean platform, the first such accident in years. It was the 23rd time this particular booster had launched, a recycling record for SpaceX.

FAA Approval Required for Resuming Launches

The FAA said it must approve SpaceX’s accident findings and corrective action before the company can resume Falcon 9 launches. A launch from California with more Starlinks was immediately called off following the accident.

SpaceX’s Jon Edwards, a vice president, said the company is working “ASAP” to understand what went wrong.

“Losing a booster is always sad. Each one of them has a unique history and character. Thankfully this doesn’t happen often,” Edwards posted on X.

Upcoming NASA Missions Potentially Affected

Besides the private spaceflight awaiting liftoff from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, SpaceX is due to launch a pair of astronauts for NASA late next month. Two seats will be set aside for the two astronauts who launched in June aboard Boeing’s new Starliner capsule, deemed unsafe by NASA for their return.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

In a Calendar Rarity, Hanukkah Starts This Year on Christmas Day

DON'T MISS

A Look at the $100 Billion in Disaster Relief in the Government Spending Bill

DON'T MISS

It’s Eggnog Season. The Boozy Beverage Dates Back to Medieval England but Remains a Holiday Hit

DON'T MISS

9-Year-Old Among 5 Killed in Christmas Market Attack in Germany

DON'T MISS

Biden Signs Bill That Averts Government Shutdown and Brings a Close to Days of Washington Upheaval

DON'T MISS

This French Bulldog Is So Fetch: Meet Toaster Strudel

DON'T MISS

The Fed Expects to Cut Rates More Slowly in 2025. What That Could Mean for Mortgages, Debt and More

DON'T MISS

New California Voter ID Ban Puts Conservative Cities at Odds With State

DON'T MISS

Big Lots Holds Going-Out-of-Business Sales After Deal to Save Company Fails

DON'T MISS

University of California Campuses Resolve Discrimination Complaints Stemming From Gaza Protests

UP NEXT

A Look at the $100 Billion in Disaster Relief in the Government Spending Bill

UP NEXT

It’s Eggnog Season. The Boozy Beverage Dates Back to Medieval England but Remains a Holiday Hit

UP NEXT

9-Year-Old Among 5 Killed in Christmas Market Attack in Germany

UP NEXT

Biden Signs Bill That Averts Government Shutdown and Brings a Close to Days of Washington Upheaval

UP NEXT

This French Bulldog Is So Fetch: Meet Toaster Strudel

UP NEXT

The Fed Expects to Cut Rates More Slowly in 2025. What That Could Mean for Mortgages, Debt and More

UP NEXT

New California Voter ID Ban Puts Conservative Cities at Odds With State

UP NEXT

Big Lots Holds Going-Out-of-Business Sales After Deal to Save Company Fails

UP NEXT

University of California Campuses Resolve Discrimination Complaints Stemming From Gaza Protests

UP NEXT

The Latest: House Approves New Government Funding Bill

9-Year-Old Among 5 Killed in Christmas Market Attack in Germany

50 minutes ago

Biden Signs Bill That Averts Government Shutdown and Brings a Close to Days of Washington Upheaval

1 hour ago

This French Bulldog Is So Fetch: Meet Toaster Strudel

3 hours ago

The Fed Expects to Cut Rates More Slowly in 2025. What That Could Mean for Mortgages, Debt and More

5 hours ago

New California Voter ID Ban Puts Conservative Cities at Odds With State

6 hours ago

Big Lots Holds Going-Out-of-Business Sales After Deal to Save Company Fails

17 hours ago

University of California Campuses Resolve Discrimination Complaints Stemming From Gaza Protests

17 hours ago

The Latest: House Approves New Government Funding Bill

19 hours ago

Rams’ Matthew Stafford and Jets’ Aaron Rodgers Collide in Matchup of Familiar Foes

20 hours ago

‘Embarrassing’ Night for Stephen Curry in 51-Point Loss at Memphis

20 hours ago

In a Calendar Rarity, Hanukkah Starts This Year on Christmas Day

Hanukkah, Judaism’s eight-day Festival of Lights, begins this year on Christmas Day, which has only happened four times since 1900. Fo...

13 minutes ago

13 minutes ago

In a Calendar Rarity, Hanukkah Starts This Year on Christmas Day

19 minutes ago

A Look at the $100 Billion in Disaster Relief in the Government Spending Bill

24 minutes ago

It’s Eggnog Season. The Boozy Beverage Dates Back to Medieval England but Remains a Holiday Hit

50 minutes ago

9-Year-Old Among 5 Killed in Christmas Market Attack in Germany

1 hour ago

Biden Signs Bill That Averts Government Shutdown and Brings a Close to Days of Washington Upheaval

Toaster Strudel, a cheerful French bulldog with a love for people and dogs, is ready to bring joy to her forever home. (Mell's Mutts)
3 hours ago

This French Bulldog Is So Fetch: Meet Toaster Strudel

5 hours ago

The Fed Expects to Cut Rates More Slowly in 2025. What That Could Mean for Mortgages, Debt and More

6 hours ago

New California Voter ID Ban Puts Conservative Cities at Odds With State

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend