FAA Grounds SpaceX’s Falcon 9

The FAA grounded SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket on August 28, 2024, after a landing failure during a Starlink mission. The rocket successfully launched satellites, but its first stage tipped over and fell into the ocean during landing. This was the second incident since July 2023, when an engine failure left satellites in a bad orbit. Falcon 9, a reusable rocket used for satellite launches and ISS missions, has been crucial for NASA’s planned missions. If the FAA’s investigation delays further launches, key missions, including a NASA astronaut flight in September, could be impacted.