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SpaceX has increased the cadence of Falcon 9 launches over the past several years to such a degree that we’ve started to take them for granted. However, space is still as dangerous and unpredictable as always. The latest Falcon 9 flight was supposed to deploy a new batch of Starlink internet satellites, but the second stage encountered an “anomaly” that probably doomed them. SpaceX and the FAA are investigating—a lot of engineers are probably canceling their weekend plans.
The Starlink Group 9-3 launch late on July 11 began just like every other deployment in recent years. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California with a payload of 20 satellites, 13 of which had direct-to-cell capability. The first stage separated and landed successfully on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You, but the second stage experienced something we haven’t seen on a Falcon 9 flight before.
About 11 minutes into the flight, a liquid oxygen leak began on the second stage. For the remainder of the broadcast below, large swaths of frozen oxygen accumulated near the engine. SpaceX cut away from the second stage soon after, but the company later clarified the sequence of events.
As a result of the anomaly, the Merlin Vacuum engine was unable to reignite to raise the spacecraft’s altitude. The issue resulted in an “engine RUD,” or rapid unscheduled disassembly, according to CEO Elon Musk. That suggests that some explosive event destroyed the engine. However, the spacecraft survived and was able to deploy its payload. Sadly, the satellites probably won’t join the rest of the Starlink constellation.
Because the second stage was unable to reach its intended altitude, the satellites were left in a low, eccentric orbit with a perigee (the lowest point) of 135 kilometers (83 miles)—less than half of what it should have been. SpaceX has only been able to contact five of the 20 satellites. It sent a command for those craft to fire their ion thrusters continuously in an attempt to raise their orbits, but it’s unlikely they will get high enough to escape atmospheric drag.
The loss of a few satellites isn’t a big deal for SpaceX, which operates more than 6,000 Starlink satellites in orbit. However, the Falcon 9 is also used for Dragon launches, both cargo and crewed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded the Falcon 9 pending an investigation, according to NASASpaceflight. SpaceX has pledged to cooperate fully with that inquiry.