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.
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.
.Here are the top political news stories for today.
Yeah, no...it's not good when that happens.
Give NASA the funding and the Space Program back. Put it on the Harris/Walz "to do" list...
@SnailAvaLibertarian2yrs2Y
You can't be serious. SpaceX ran this booster until it failed. They wanted an idea how many launches it would handle and what would break. The landing foot broke after 22 launches I believe. NASA has become a joke. That can't even get their crew home.
@WingedFr33domForward2yrs2Y
He can be, and is serious.
SpaceX sucks, plain and simple. It's not a serious company. It's a dangerous liability.
@KingdomDaveDemocrat2yrs2Y
How about EVERY US government agency stop giving Musk contracts and subsidies?
Then send him back to South Africa
This was not the pick up for the 2 Stranded astronauts.. this was a trip in space for 5 people to do some space surfing and a walk in space with a newly designed space suit. Apparently
@PloverRubyGreen2yrs2Y
I’m beginning to think “someone” doesn’t have a clue as to what he is doing.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
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