The company is currently investigating the incident. Prolonged launch delays may result in a shift to the 2024 launch schedule.
SpaceX has indefinitely postponed further Falcon 9 launches after the premature deployment and crash of 20 Starlink satellites on Earth. The company is currently investigating the incident, the Independent reports.
The satellites launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on July 11 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California burned up in the atmosphere. The rocket then flew as expected and its first stage successfully separated as planned. But the second stage failed to complete its second burn after leaking liquid oxygen.
“The second stage of the Falcon 9 nominally conducted its first blast, but the second stage suffered a liquid oxygen leak. Although the stage survived and still injected satellites, it did not successfully complete its orbital flight,” SpaceX said in a statement.
Stuck in low orbit, the rocket released its payload of 20 Starlink satellites, which were also stuck in a suboptimal orbit. Atmospheric drag slows the satellites down, causing them to fall.
“At this level of drag, our maximum available thrust is probably not enough to successfully lift the satellites. So, the satellites will re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere and be completely destroyed. They do not cause threat to other satellites in orbit or to public safety,” the company said in a statement.
An attempt to burn the fuel and launch the satellites into a higher orbit failed, and all 20 satellites burned up in the atmosphere. It is known that SpaceX will not launch the Falcon 9 rocket until the investigation into this incident is completed.
The company said it will conduct a “full investigation in coordination with the FAA” to determine the root cause and take corrective action to ensure the success of future missions. It’s unclear how long SpaceX’s flagship Falcon 9 rocket will stay on the ground. The long delay could result in a change in the company’s 2024 launch schedule.
The Starlink Internet network is available to users in 72 countries. This makes SpaceX the world’s largest satellite operator.
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Source: korrespondent
I am Ben Stock, a passionate and experienced digital journalist working in the news industry. At the Buna Times, I write articles covering technology developments and related topics. I strive to provide reliable information that my readers can trust. My research skills are top-notch, as well as my ability to craft engaging stories on timely topics with clarity and accuracy.