By Joey Roulette
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration announced on Wednesday that SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket has been grounded after a failed landing attempt during a routine Starlink mission, marking the second grounding for the company this year.
SpaceX successfully launched a batch of Starlink internet satellites into orbit early on Wednesday from Florida. However, the reusable first stage booster of the Falcon 9 failed to land on a sea-faring barge as planned, instead toppling into the ocean.
The incident has prompted the FAA to require an investigation, as groundings of the Falcon 9 rocket are rare and could indicate potential risks for future missions.
The grounding of the Falcon 9 could potentially delay the launch of SpaceX's high-profile Polaris Dawn mission, as well as impact the upcoming NASA mission involving two astronauts.
SpaceX has been a key player in the space industry, with a fleet of reusable Falcon boosters that have allowed the company to lead in launch frequency. However, the recent landing failure has raised concerns about safety and regulatory oversight.
Overall, the grounding of the Falcon 9 rocket highlights the complex nature of space exploration and the importance of thorough investigations to ensure the safety of future missions.