The Federal Aviation Administration Initiates Inquiry into Falcon 9's Failed Landing following Crew-9 Mission

The Federal Aviation Administration Initiates Inquiry into Falcon 9's Failed Landing following Crew-9 Mission

The Falcon 9 rocket's next flight isn't on the horizon due to a hiccup during its most recent mission. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated an investigation following an anomaly in the upper stage during SpaceX's Crew-9 launch, causing it to miss its ocean splashdown target.

SpaceX decided to halt the Falcon 9's launches until they pinpoint the root cause of the anomaly. The investigation is being jointly managed by SpaceX and the FAA, with no reported injuries or property damage resulting from the event. The FAA has made it clear that resolution of this issue is a prerequisite for the Falcon 9's return to action, hosting its most recent statement on the matter.

SpaceX grounded its rocket to look into the root cause of the anomaly, which caused Falcon 9 to miss its targeted landing area. Now, the FAA has made it clear that an investigation is required before the rocket can resume its launches, according to a recent

The Falcon 9 launched on September 28, carrying NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov to the International Space Station aboard the Dragon crew capsule. Unfortunately, the upper stage experienced an unplanned deorbit burn, causing it to veer off course during its descent.

statement. The company’s workhorse is a favorite in the industry, and it has a packed schedule ahead of it, but it’s unclear when it will be able to fly again.

This incident marks the third time the Falcon 9 has faced such challenges in less than three months. In July, the rocket encountered an upper stage malfunction that grounded it until two weeks later when the cause of the failure – a liquid oxygen leak – was identified. A similar incident occurred a month later when the booster experienced a toppling incident during landing, leading to a massive fire. However, the FAA permitted the resumption of Starlink satellite launches with the Falcon 9 three days later.

Hera mission on October 7.

As one of the industry's most prolific rockets, the Falcon 9's absence may put pressure on the growing spaceflight sector, which relies on dependable vehicles to maintain their space missions.

upper stage malfunction. The incident grounded the rocket until an

Sources:

investigation into the failed flight concluded around two weeks later, pinpointing an oxygen leak as the reason behind the engine malfunction. A little over a month later, the rocket’s booster returned to Earth to perform a landing on a droneship in the Atlantic Ocean after delivering 21 Starlink satellites to orbit when it

1. Gizmodo: "ESA's Hera probe: What we know about the asteroid impact mission and how it will work"
2. [Gizmodo: "SpaceX's Falcon 9 is Grounded After a Second Stage Breaks Apart in Space"] (https://gizmodo.com/spacexs-falcon-9-grounded-after-second-stage-breaks-apart-in-space-2000469770)
3. [Gizmodo: "SpaceX's Falcon 9 Catches Fire During Rare Fumbled Landing"] (https://gizmodo.com/spacexs-falcon-9-rocket-catches-fire-during-rare-fumbled-landing-2000491842)
4. [Gizmodo: "SpaceX Hits Back at FAA Over Launch Penalties and Delays"] (https://gizmodo.com/spacex-hits-back-at-faa-over-launch-penalties-and-delays-2000501320)
5. Enrichment Data: https://universe-today.com/38460/spacex-cause-falcon-9-booster-explosion/

toppled over once it reached the droneship and broke apart, igniting a large fire. The incident prompted the FAA to ground the rocket but Falcon 9 was back to launching Starlink satellites three days later.

Note: The enrichment data, while providing a deeper understanding of the situation, was selectively applied to offer additional details only where necessary to supplement the article. The original content serves as the base article, with the integrations used sparingly where they add significance or clarify ambiguous areas.

SpaceX Hits Back at FAA Over Launch Penalties and Delays

1. Despite the Falcon 9's grounding due to the anomaly, SpaceX's future in the space industry remains promising, with advancements in technology and sectors like SpaceX's Hera mission scheduled for October 7.
2. The false accusations about the Falcon 9's safety following its recent accident incidents have been denied by SpaceX, who assure that their rocket is safe for use, citing rigorous checks and safety measures.
3. The FAA's investigation into the Falcon 9's upper stage malfunction in July found no evidence of any false claims related to sabotage or negligence, only the identified liquid oxygen leak as the cause.
4. Anytime in the future, the Falcon 9's launch schedule is subject to changes due to unforeseen accident incidents or anomalies, reiterating the importance of collaboration and joint investigations between SpaceX and regulatory bodies like the FAA.

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