FAA halts SpaceX operations as rocket topples and catches fire during landing

SpaceX’s rocket launches have been temporarily halted after a booster rocket caught fire and toppled over during a landing attempt, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to ground the company’s Falcon 9 rockets for an investigation. Fortunately, no injuries or property damage were reported from the incident, which occurred off the coast of Florida.

It remains unclear how this event will impact SpaceX’s scheduled crew flights, including one for a private mission and another for NASA. A chartered flight for a billionaire was delayed earlier due to adverse weather conditions, compounding the setbacks for the space company.

The rocket successfully launched 21 Starlink internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station but encountered trouble when the first-stage booster failed to land properly on the ocean platform, resulting in a fireball. This was the first such accident in years for SpaceX and happened during the 23rd launch of this particular booster, setting a recycling record for the company.

The FAA stated that SpaceX must share its findings from the accident and implement necessary corrective actions before the Falcon 9 launches can resume. A launch in California with more Starlink satellites was canceled immediately following the incident.

In addition to the private spaceflight awaiting liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, SpaceX is also preparing to launch a NASA mission next month with two astronauts onboard. NASA has designated two seats on this mission for the astronauts who flew on Boeing’s Starliner capsule in June, a spacecraft the agency deemed unsafe for their return.