Rocket tank endangers Starlink-Mission of Elon Musk
SpaceX, the US Corporation led by Elon Musk, is a Pioneer in Modern Space Travel. However, its recent success streak has been disrupted. Shortly after takeoff, 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 takeoff, there were issues with the engine, causing the Starlink satellites on board to be deployed in a lower orbit than planned. This increases the risk of the spacecraft burning up in Earth's atmosphere. Eventually, the rocket disintegrated.
The attempt to ignite a second stage in orbit of the Falcon-9 rocket failed, according to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on "X". This led to a "RUD", which stands for "rapid unscheduled disassembly", or in German: "kurzfristige ungeplante Demontage" - a sudden disassembly.
The Falcon-9 rocket was supposed to launch 20 Starlink-Internet satellites from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Thursday evening (local time). It's possible that these satellites didn't reach the necessary height in space due to the engine problems, preventing them from entering the planned orbit, Musk added. Initially, contact with only five of the satellites was possible.
The US aviation authority, the 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 in flight after approximately 300 successful launches. According to SpaceX's statements, 140 Falcon-9 rockets have been successfully launched as of 2024.
"Amazing series had to come to an end at some point"
The unsuccessful mission of the most frequently used rocket type marks the end of an astonishing series that secured SpaceX a leading 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 Falcon 9 rocket engines. Mueller remained optimistic that the team would solve the problem and resume the cycle.
Many countries and space companies rely on the privately managed corporation to launch their satellites and astronauts into space. Industry experts estimate the company's value at around 200 billion dollars. The endangered satellites could be worth at least ten million dollars combined.
SpaceX, under the leadership of CEO Elon Musk, has been instrumental in modern space travel, particularly in managing satellite launches. Despite the setback during the recent Rocket tests, SpaceX continues to emphasize the importance of Education in space exploration, using events like these to inspire future generations. Elon Musk himself has expressed interest in harnessing the power of satellites for internet connectivity, with initiatives like Starlink.
