Upcoming SpaceX launches suddenly are up in the air after SpaceX reported an investigation into a mishap during a Monday Starlink launch in California.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched at 7:47 a.m. PT (10:47 a.m. ET) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. While successfully carrying 25 Starlink internet satellites to orbit, the rocket’s upper stage experienced a malfunction as it prepared for a deorbit burn.
“During today’s Falcon 9 launch of @Starlink satellites, the second stage experienced an off-nominal condition during preparation for the deorbit burn,” SpaceX said in a statement on X.. “The vehicle then performed as designed to successfully passivate the stage. The first two MVac burns were nominal and safely deployed all 25 @Starlink satellites to their intended orbit. Teams are reviewing data to determine root cause and corrective actions before returning to flight.”
As of now, it remains to be seen what impact this will have on Falcon 9 launches from Cape Canaveral. The next launch was currently set for no earlier than 4:20 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5 from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. That mission is also a Starlink mission.
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Also on tap is a NASA Crew-12 launch on a Falcon 9 set for no earlier than Feb. 11. It remains to be seen if this investigation into the upper stage malfunction will cause a delay. With NASA’s Crew-11 having returned early due to an ill crew member, only one NASA astronaut currently remains among the crew onboard the ISS.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX launch in California experiences upper stage malfunction