this post was submitted on 12 Jul 2024
38 points (97.5% liked)

SpaceX

1959 readers
17 users here now

A community for discussing SpaceX.

Related space communities:

Memes:

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
38
submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by ptfrd to c/spacex
 

During tonight’s Falcon 9 launch of Starlink from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the second stage engine did not complete its second burn. As a result, the Starlink satellites were deployed into a lower than intended orbit. SpaceX has made contact with five of the satellites so far and is attempting to have them raise orbit using their ion thrusters.

There's also a tweet saying the same thing in fewer words.

This is the affected mission: Starlink 9-3 launch bulletin

Let's hope it was due to SpaceX pushing the envelope on their in-house Starlink missions in some way, though I have no specific guesses along those lines. Perhaps a manufacturing defect or an operational mistake are more likely to be the leading candidates for the cause.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] ptfrd 4 points 4 months ago (2 children)

The broadcast ends after SECO-1 (which seems to happen at the expected time). But can anyone spot any clues?

Is there more ice than normal on the 2nd stage? (E.g. In the view at T+6:30)

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago (1 children)
[–] threelonmusketeers 2 points 4 months ago

That is definitely not a norminal amount of ice.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 months ago

The second stage engine cover seemed to get ‘over inflated’ at T+4:07. And you can definitely see it’s in a lower orbit on the final screen right after SECO