SpaceX rocket mishap misplaces Starlink satellites in incorrect orbit

Falcon 9 Rocket Malfunction Results in Low Orbit for Internet Satellites

In a significant setback for the aerospace industry, a Falcon 9 rocket encountered a malfunction shortly after its launch from California, marking the first failure for this type of mission in nearly a decade. The rocket, carrying 20 internet satellites, experienced an upper stage engine malfunction just minutes into the flight due to a liquid oxygen leak.

Engine Malfunction and Its Aftermath

Flight controllers managed to establish contact with half of the satellites and made efforts to boost them into a higher orbit using onboard ion thrusters. However, the low end of their current orbit is only 84 miles (135 kilometers) above Earth—less than half of the intended altitude. The company expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the available thrust to raise the satellites sufficiently. The result is that these satellites are expected to reenter the atmosphere and burn up, though the exact timing of this event remains unclear.

Impact on Internet Service and Upcoming Flights

With more than 6,000 Starlink satellites currently providing internet connectivity to some of the world's remotest regions, this incident underscores the challenges of maintaining and expanding such a vast network. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that the issue must be resolved before any future Falcon rocket flights can proceed. The impact of this malfunction on upcoming missions remains uncertain.

Future Missions in Limbo

Several important launches are on the schedule, including a billionaire's spaceflight slated for July 31 from Florida, which plans to feature the first private spacewalk, and another astronaut flight to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA in mid-August. Jared Isaacman, the tech entrepreneur leading the private flight, emphasized that the Falcon 9 has an "incredible track record" and touted its emergency escape system. Despite the previous failure in 2015 during a space station cargo mission and another ground-based explosion in 2016, the high flight rate of SpaceX missions is expected to facilitate quick identification and correction of such problems.

Ongoing Support and Responsibility

The advancement of these missions and swift resolution of technical challenges remain essential, especially with SpaceX’s ambitious flight schedule. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group provides support to the AP Health and Science Department, though the AP retains full editorial control over its reporting.