Latest SpaceX mission fails to deliver satellites into proper orbit
VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. – Space X launched a Falcon 9 carrying 20 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base Thursday, but the second stage of the launch failed to bring its payload into a sustainable orbit and the satellites are now falling back towards Earth.
Those dropping satellites do not pose a danger to the public and are expected to burn up before reaching the surface shared SpaceX Friday.
During the mission's second stage, engines were supposed to carry out a final burn to bring the payload into an appropriate orbit but failed after a liquid oxygen leak developed during the second stage shared SpaceX online.
According to SpaceX, the satellites onboard were sent into an eccentric orbit with a very low perigee, about half the expected perigee altitude, after the failed second burn.
Due to the high-drag on the satellites from such a low orbit, about 135 kilometers above the Earth, the satellites are now expected to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up before reaching the surface without posing a risk to other orbiting satellites or the public explained SpaceX.
Live video from camera's on-board the launch showed notable ice buildup that is shown in the image below.
A joint failure investigation is now required before any Falcon 9 is cleared to launch detailed the Federal Aviation Administration in a statement about the failure Friday.
"A return to flight is based on the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] determining that any system, process or procedure related to the mishap does not affect public safety," stated the Federal Aviation Adminsitration. "In addition, SpaceX may need to request and receive approval from the FAA to modify its license that incorporates any corrective actions and meet all other licensing requirements."
That investigation could delay the upcoming Polaris Dawn mission, a manned mission currently scheduled to be launched from Florida on Jul. 31 of this year.
Following the first stage separation, the reusable Falcon 9 used in this mission successfully landed on the Of Course I Still Love You drone ship stationed in the Pacific Ocean pictured below.
The launch took off at 7:36 p.m. on Thursday which was viewable on the company's social media website here.
According to SpaceX, this was the 19th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission which previously launched the following missions: Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, DART, Transporter-7, Iridium OneWeb, SDA-0B, and 13 other Starlink missions.
You can sign up for alerts on the latest launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base here.
