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.
Related Story: Elon Musk Says He Will Move SpaceX, X HQ From California to Texas
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:
Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight
1 day ago
Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase
1 day ago
613 Killed at Gaza Aid Distribution Sites, Near Humanitarian Covoys, Says UN
1 day ago
Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man
1 day ago
Israeli Military Kills 20 in Gaza as Trump Awaits Hamas Reply to Truce Proposal
1 day ago
Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Rachelle Maria Blanco
1 day ago
Russia Pounds Kyiv With Largest Drone Attack, Hours After Trump-Putin Call
1 day ago
How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again
13 hours ago
Categories

How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

Trump to Sign Tax-Cut and Spending Bill in July 4 Ceremony

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

613 Killed at Gaza Aid Distribution Sites, Near Humanitarian Covoys, Says UN

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man
