In a plot twist straight out of a sci-fi flick, SpaceX’s reliable Falcon 9 rocket faced a rare malfunction during Thursday’s Starlink satellite launch, leaving regulators and space fans buzzing. The second stage engine failed to reignite after liftoff from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base, stranding 20 internet satellites in a dangerously low orbit .
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) swiftly grounded the rocket Friday, demanding a full investigation. While no injuries or property damage were reported, the satellites now risk burning up in Earth’s atmosphere .
SpaceX confirmed the issue on X, stating the engine didn’t complete its second burn. Elon Musk called it a mystery, saying his team is ‘reviewing data tonight’ like detectives cracking a cosmic case . This marks Falcon 9’s first failure since 2015 – breaking its 354-mission streak of near-flawless launches.
For young tech enthusiasts and future Mars colonists, this hiccup highlights the high-stakes reality of space innovation. Stay tuned as SpaceX races to troubleshoot!
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. This marks Falcon 9’s first failure since 2015 – breaking its 354-mission streak of near-flawless launches.
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