SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Grounded Amid Upcoming Human Spaceflight Missions

The FAA opens a mishap investigation into the company’s workhorse booster after it tipped over while attempting to land on a droneship.

Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 03:56 PM ET

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SpaceX’s Falcon 9 booster is a key component of the company’s crewed and uncrewed spaceflight missions. [Courtesy: SpaceX]

Key Takeaways:

SpaceX's Falcon 9 booster has been grounded by the FAA for the second time in two months after it tipped over into the Atlantic Ocean following a Starlink launch due to a collapsed landing leg.
This grounding could significantly delay two crucial upcoming crewed missions: NASA's Crew-9 (important for returning Starliner astronauts) and the Polaris Dawn private spaceflight.
While an investigation is underway, SpaceX officials assert the issue was purely a recovery problem that did not jeopardize the primary mission or public safety, hoping for a swift resolution to allow flights to resume.

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SpaceX’s Falcon 9 booster, a key piece of the company’s crewed and uncrewed spaceflight efforts, is grounded for the second time in as many months.

The FAA on Wednesday announced it will require an investigation into Falcon 9’s launch of 21 Starlink satellites that morning, which concluded with the booster tipping over into the Atlantic Ocean. Depending on the length of the investigation, two crewed SpaceX missions that will rely on the rocket—one for NASA, the other for a billionaire entrepreneur—could face setbacks.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.