Cape Canaveral, United States - August 28, 2024

In a dramatic turn of events early on August 28, a SpaceX Falcon 9 booster, marking its 23rd flight, met a fiery end after successfully launching 21 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct-to-Cell capabilities, into orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The incident marks the first loss of a Falcon 9 booster during a landing attempt in over three years.

The launch, which took place at 2:54 a.m. ET, was initially celebrated for its success in deploying the satellites. However, the post-launch phase took a turn when the first stage booster, aiming for a landing on the droneship "A Shortfall of Gravitas" stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, experienced a catastrophic failure. Upon touchdown, one of the three landing legs collapsed, causing the booster to tip over and erupt into a fireball, ultimately tumbling into the ocean.

This booster had a storied history, having previously supported missions like the GPS III Space Vehicle launches, Inspiration4, and multiple Starlink missions, showcasing its durability and the reusability ethos of SpaceX's design.

The failure has led to a grounding order from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), halting all Falcon 9 launches pending a thorough investigation. This decision comes at a critical time, as SpaceX was gearing up for the Polaris Dawn mission, which would have featured the first commercial spacewalk.

Public reactions on social media platform X were mixed, with some users expressing disappointment over the incident, while others highlighted the inherent risks of space exploration. "RIP Booster," mourned one user, reflecting a sentiment of loss over the technical marvel that had served multiple missions.

SpaceX, known for pushing the boundaries of space technology, now faces a period of scrutiny and review. The company, led by Elon Musk, has not yet provided detailed comments on the incident, but the grounding by the FAA underscores the serious nature of the mishap.