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Regulators have given SpaceX the all - clear to return to launch with the Falcon 9 rocket two week after the vehicle experienced an anomaly on orbit .
It ’s a quick turnaround for the space troupe , which had to conduct an investigating overseen by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration , name the probable cause of the anomaly , and the corrective actions it will take to ensure it does n’t happen again . This course of legal action is standard after a roquette launch goes untimely .
SpaceX ’s Falcon 9experienced a rare issue on orbitafter a routine launch of a batch of Starlink satellites on July 11 . While launch and stage legal separation go along as expected , the second point experienced a catastrophic progeny . Twenty satellite were deployed , but were in an orbit too low to survive . All of the satellites have reentered the ambience and burned up .
previous Thursday , SpaceX confirmed in an update posted to its websitethat the problem was due to a liquid atomic number 8 leak in the insulation surrounding the second microscope stage ’s single Merlin locomotive engine . That leak was due to a crevice in a sensing line connected to the force per unit area detector , which developed due to a loose clinch in the argument and the form from railway locomotive vibration .
Despite the leak , which occurred during the first firing of the 2nd level engine on eye socket , the commission continued to proceed as normal . But the fluent oxygen made the locomotive components radical - insensate ; as a result , the 2nd attempt firing did not go to design . Instead of a keep in line burn , the engine “ experienced a knockout start , ” SpaceX said , which damaged the engine and cause the upper point to mislay its orientation on reach .
SpaceX has removed the failed sensation line and sensing element on the second stagecoach locomotive for near - terminus Falcon 9 launch , which are not used in the flight base hit system , the company said . The company has already try out the design modification at its rocket development facility in McGregor , Texas . The party also conducted additional inspections of all sensory faculty lines on its active second stage fleet , go to “ proactive replenishment ” in some representative , SpaceX added in its update .
Prior to this effect , SpaceX feature a 335 - launch streak across its Falcon family of rocket . That include 96 successful launches in 2023 and 69 successful launch this class .
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While the FAA enounce in a statement that the overall probe is still open , SpaceX said it had submitted its mishap report to the governor .
“ After a comprehensive review , the FAA determined no public safety issue were involved in the anomaly that occurred during the SpaceX Starlink Group 9 - 3 launch on July 11 , ” the regulator say in a assertion to TechCrunch . “ This public safety conclusion means the Falcon 9 vehicle may refund to trajectory operations while the overall investigation remains open , supply all other license requirements are met . ”
SpaceX is aiming to lead its next Falcon 9 launch on July 27 . That launch will carry another batch of Starlink satellite to orbit .
