Cape Canaveral, United States - August 28, 2024

In a dramatic turn of events early morning on August 28, a SpaceX Falcon 9 first-stage booster failed to secure its landing on the droneship "A Shortfall of Gravitas" post-launch, leading to its grounding by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The incident occurred following the successful deployment of 21 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit as part of the Starlink 8-6 mission, which lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The Falcon 9, which had previously completed 22 successful missions, including notable flights like the Inspiration4 and Ax-1 missions, tipped over upon touchdown. This mishap, labeled an "anomaly" by the FAA, has prompted a full investigation into the landing failure to ensure public safety and the integrity of future launches.

SpaceX, via its official X account, confirmed the incident, stating, "After a successful ascent, Falcon 9's first stage booster tipped over following touchdown on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship." The company added that teams were actively assessing the booster's flight data to understand the cause of the failure.

The FAA, in response to the incident, announced on its website that it is "aware an anomaly occurred during the SpaceX Starlink Group 8-6 mission" and has mandated an investigation. This grounding marks the second time this year that the FAA has halted Falcon 9 operations following a similar incident in July where a second-stage engine malfunctioned, leading to the failure of deploying Starlink satellites into their intended orbit.

This latest setback for SpaceX not only affects its satellite internet constellation project, Starlink, but also potentially delays other high-profile missions, including the Polaris Dawn mission, which was already facing delays due to weather conditions. The grounding of Falcon 9 could ripple through SpaceX's ambitious launch schedule, impacting everything from crewed missions to the International Space Station to the deployment of additional Starlink satellites.

SpaceX's immediate response included scrubbing a planned Starlink launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California to allow for a thorough review of the landing data. This cautious approach underscores the company's commitment to safety and reliability, crucial for maintaining trust in its commercial spaceflight operations.