The rocket, a prolific launch vehicle that propels both satellites and astronauts into orbit, took off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on a thrilling Thursday night. SpaceX’s reliable Falcon 9 rocket faced an unusual setback, causing the latest batch of Starlink satellites to miss their orbit, leading to an investigation by regulators.
The first stage of the rocket performed flawlessly, landing on the droneship as expected. However, the second stage encountered a liquid oxygen leak, preventing it from completing its planned second burn. Despite deploying the 20 Starlink internet satellites, they ended up in an eccentric orbit with a lower altitude than required.
Efforts were made overnight to adjust the satellites’ orbit, but unfortunately, they will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and disintegrate. SpaceX assured that there is no danger to other satellites or public safety. For more information, you can visit phys.org.
