Why the US has temporarily grounded Falcon 9 launches
SpaceX has temporarily grounded its Falcon 9 rockets after a recent launch failed to place satellites into orbit as planned.
A Falcon 9 took off from California on Thursday evening with 20 of the company’s Starlink satellites on board, intended to join its constellation that provides internet access from space.
According to a SpaceX statement, the first stage of the rocket performed as planned, separated, and returned to Earth. However, the second stage experienced a “liquid oxygen leak” after separation.
The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) said it has opened an investigation to determine the cause of the incident and corrective actions, noting that “resumption of flights will depend on an FAA decision ensuring that no system or procedure related to the incident affects public safety.”
The Falcon 9 is used for cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA and also regularly transports astronauts to the station.
