First-stage crash interrupts SpaceX booster recovery sequence
After weather delays launch of the private Polaris Dawn space mission until at least August 30, SpaceX continued Wednesday morning with two Starlink satellite launches via Falcon 9 rockets. Unfortunately, the first Falcon 9 rocket launch resulted in a first-stage booster falling into the Atlantic Ocean and catching fire. While the rest of the rocket reached space and 21 satellites deployeda planned second launch in California was canceled, leaving the SpaceX team could study the booster accident.
Falcon 9 boosters are supposed to be repairable. With the incident on Wednesday morning, SpaceX broke his streak of 267 successful booster landings since 2021.
SpaceX has not yet disclosed whether the first-stage booster failure will further delay or impact the Polaris Dawn mission, which is also flying on a Falcon rocket.
Polaris Dawn, which will send four private astronauts into orbit on a planned five-day mission, will be piloted by Shift4 Payments entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, who previously flew into space on the private Inspiration4 mission in 2001. The new mission was scheduled to launch on Monday, August 26, but was delayed on consecutive days due to adverse weather conditions and to “get a better look at a ground-side helium leak on the Quick Disconnect umbilical,” the company said on social media network X earlier in the week.
In addition to news items, you can find updates about Polaris Dawn on the website of the mission, X, Instagram And Flickrwhere photos of the mission will be posted.
