SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launch for Starlink satellites was aborted due to a booster malfunction, delaying the mission.
Updated: Jun 15, 2024 11:33 AM EST
A still from the launch video.
What could be called a setback for SpaceX, a Falcon 9 rocket experienced an unexpected abort just moments before liftoff on June 14 afternoon, halting the planned deployment of 22 Starlink internet satellites from Florida.
The Falcon 9 rocket was unable to launch its Starlink 10-2 satellite payload due to a rare abort. The cause of the malfunction in the Falcon 9 first-stage booster, which has previously launched 15 times, remains unknown.
A rocket launch typically involves three or four stages, as the mission to send a vehicle into space is a complex endeavor.
However, as NASA acknowledges, launching a rocket is not straightforward due to gravity. The rocket must achieve a thrust of at least 17,800 miles per hour and follow a curved trajectory above Earth.
Falcon 9 is unique
During the Launch Phase, a booster provides the spacecraft with additional thrust to overcome Earth’s gravitational forces. Once its fuel is depleted, the booster typically separates and falls back to Earth.
After the booster provides the initial thrust, the rocket enters the Cruise Phase, stage two, and accelerates into stage three to achieve orbital velocity. This velocity strikes a balance between gravitational force and the momentum required for spacecraft to deploy satellites.
Notably, the 230-foot Falcon 9 first-stage booster is unique in its reusability. Approximately 8.5 minutes into its flight, it was intended to land vertically on a droneship in the Atlantic Ocean for future missions.
When will the Falcon 9 take off again?
The Falcon 9 spacecraft has an impressive record of 344 launches and 301 landings. In 2020, it became the first private, commercial rocket to transport humans to space.
In just a few years, it has achieved the highest number of launches and the best safety record in history. The Falcon 9 can transport cargo, astronauts, and various payloads to space.
The recent launch abort on June 14 may have supposedly been due to unfavorable weather conditions. However, the exact date for the Falcon 9 first-stage booster’s relaunch is uncertain. But reports suggest that it is expected to occur soon.
To date, the booster has completed ten missions deploying Starlink satellites into orbit, contributing to SpaceX’s goal of establishing a comprehensive internet and mobile supply system. Currently, 6,078 Starlink satellites are in orbit, with 6,006 operational.
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
Elon Musk aims to launch up to 42,000 satellites, according to Business Insider, so we’ll see if we get there. As to when Falcon 9 first-stage booster is set to relaunch, we don’t know, but it will probably blast off again soon.
NEWSLETTER
The Blueprint Daily
Stay up-to-date on engineering, tech, space, and science news with The Blueprint.
ABOUT THE EDITOR
Maria Mocerino Originally from LA, Maria Mocerino has been published in Business Insider, The Irish Examiner, The Rogue Mag, Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines, and now Interesting Engineering.