Telemetry of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at liftoff on July 11, 2024. [Screenshot/ SpaceX]
Key Takeaways:
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket experienced its first malfunction in nearly a decade during a Starlink satellite launch.
The second-stage engine failed to complete its second burn, deploying the Starlink satellites into a lower than intended orbit.
SpaceX is attempting to raise the orbit of some contacted satellites using their ion thrusters; the satellites are designed to safely burn up upon atmospheric reentry.
For the first time in nearly a decade, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket experienced a malfunction while attempting to deliver a batch of internet satellites into orbit on Thursday night.
The launch, occurring around 10:30 p.m. PDT at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, is a rare mishap for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, which routinely flies NASA astronauts to orbit.
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Amelia Walsh is a private pilot who enjoys flying her family’s Columbia 350. She is based in Colorado and loves all things outdoors including skiing, hiking, and camping.
