The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets and ordered an investigation following a predawn accident Wednesday where a booster rocket toppled over in flames while landing off the Florida coast. No injuries or public damage were reported, but the incident has put SpaceX launches on hold.
The accident occurred after a successful launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, which delivered 21 Starlink internet satellites into orbit. However, the first-stage booster, on its record 23rd flight, fell over in a fireball moments after landing on an ocean platform, marking the first such accident for SpaceX in years.
In response, the FAA has mandated that SpaceX must receive approval for its accident findings and corrective actions before resuming Falcon 9 launches. This decision led to the immediate cancellation of a planned launch from California carrying more Starlink satellites.
The grounding comes at a critical time for SpaceX, potentially impacting upcoming crew flights, including a private mission and a NASA flight. Just hours before the accident, a billionaire’s chartered flight had been delayed due to poor weather forecasts.
Jon Edwards, a SpaceX vice president, addressed the incident on social media platform X, stating the company is working “ASAP” to understand the cause of the failure. “Losing a booster is always sad. Each one of them has a unique history and character. Thankfully this doesn’t happen often,” Edwards posted.
The incident’s timing is particularly sensitive given SpaceX’s upcoming launches. Besides the private spaceflight awaiting liftoff from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, the company is scheduled to launch a pair of astronauts for NASA late next month. This mission includes provisions for two astronauts who launched in June aboard Boeing’s new Starliner capsule, now deemed unsafe by NASA for their return.
