Space travel US aviation authority halts further launches of SpaceX rockets
Following problems with the ignition of a propulsion stage of a Falcon 9 rocket, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned further launches of rockets from the private space company SpaceX for the time being. The rockets from Elon Musk's space company have had hundreds of successful launches.
13.07.2024, 14:24
13.07.2024, 14:52
SDA
The FAA has ordered an investigation into the failed launch on July 11, according to the agency's website. As a result, further missions may be delayed, including flights for the US space agency NASA and with private space tourists.
"The resumption of flights is based on the FAA's conclusion that all systems, processes and procedures related to the mishap do not pose a threat to public safety," the FAA continued.
After hundreds of successful launches in recent years, the rocket developed problems shortly after launch on Thursday evening (local time) and broke apart. The attempt to ignite the second propulsion stage of the Falcon 9 rocket failed, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk told the "X" news service.
SpaceX has lost contact with all satellites on board
The rocket was supposed to launch 20 Starlink internet satellites into orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. However, the satellites did not reach the required altitude. Contact has now been lost with all the satellites, SpaceX announced on its website. They will therefore enter the Earth's atmosphere and disintegrate. There is no danger to other satellites or the public, it added.
The space company is trying to save the mission that began on Thursday. So far, the company has made contact with five of the 20 satellites and wants to influence their orbit with the help of their ion drives, the company wrote on its boss Musk's X short message service.
The US billionaire added that SpaceX is updating the satellites' software in order to fire the on-board engines more powerfully than usual. This is intended to prevent re-entry into the atmosphere. "Unlike a Star Trek episode, this probably won't work, but it's worth a try," Musk wrote.
According to US media, this is the first time since 2015 that a Falcon 9 rocket has failed after a series of around 300 successful launches. According to SpaceX, around 140 Falcon 9 rockets had already been launched in 2024 alone, reported the New York Times.
