Rocket-Panic threatens Starlink-Mission of Elon Musk
SpaceX, the US Corporation led by Elon Musk, is a Pioneer in Modern Space Travel. However, the Success Streak has been disrupted. Shortly after the launch, a Rocket encountered problems. SpaceX's attempts to save the ongoing mission failed. The spacecraft were at risk of burning up in Earth's atmosphere.
A malfunctioning Falcon-9 rocket from SpaceX, the private space company led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, threatens the latest Starlink Mission. About an hour after the launch, there were issues with the engine, causing the Starlink satellites on board to be deployed in a lower orbit than planned, according to Musk. This increases the risk of the spacecraft burning up in Earth's atmosphere. Eventually, the rocket disintegrated.
The attempt to ignite a second stage engine in orbit of the Falcon-9 rocket failed, Musk announced on "X". This led to a "RUD", which stands for "rapid unscheduled disassembly", or "kurzfristige ungeplante Demontage" in German: sudden unexpected disassembly.
The Falcon-9 rocket was scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Thursday evening (local time) and deploy 20 Starlink Internet satellites into their orbit. It's possible that these satellites didn't reach the necessary altitude due to the propulsion issues in space, Musk wrote further. Initially, contact was only possible with five of the satellites.
The US aviation authority FAA is investigating the incident during the "Starlink Group 9-3" mission, reported CNBC. According to US media, this is the first time since 2015 that a Falcon 9 rocket has disintegrated. SpaceX has reportedly launched over 140 Falcon 9 rockets successfully as of 2024, according to the "New York Times".
"Amazing series had to come to an end at some point"
With the failed mission of the most frequently used rocket type, SpaceX ends an amazing series that secured it a pioneering role in the industry. "We knew that this amazing series had to come to an end at some point, but 344 flights in a row is remarkable", said Tom Mueller, the former Vice President for Propulsion Systems, who designed the rocket engines of the Falcon 9. He remained optimistic that the team would solve the problem and resume the cycle.
Many countries and space companies rely on the privately-run corporation to launch their satellites and astronauts into space. Industry experts value the company at around 200 billion dollars. The satellites at risk could be worth at least ten million dollars combined.
Despite the setback at the Starlink Group 9-3 mission, Elon Musk and his team at SpaceX continue to push the boundaries of space travel and education. The failure of the Falcon-9 rocket highlighted the challenges in rocket tests, but it also underscores SpaceX's commitment to improving its technology for future satellite deployments.
With the aim of reducing reliance on traditional, geostationary satellites, SpaceX's Starlink project continues to innovate in the field of space travel, offering the potential for cost-effective satellite-based internet services globally.
The success of SpaceX's rocket tests is crucial for the advancement of space exploration, as well as for its role in providing a platform for other companies and nations to send their satellites and astronauts into space for various applications, including research and communication.
