SpaceX Falcon 9 return mission will liftoff on Saturday

SpaceX is set to return the Falcon 9 rocket with a new mission launching on Saturday (tomorrow) with 23 Starlink loaded in the payload fairings.

This new mission will come after 14 days of hiatus following the July 11th launch anomaly. An investigation report by SpaceX detailed that the first stage remained nominal, and performed stage separation and landing through this flight.

However, a liquid oxygen leak developed in the insulation around the upper stage during the first burn. This leak appeared after a crack in a sense line for a pressure sensor attached to the vehicle’s oxygen system.

High loading from engine vibration and looseness in the clamp contained the line and opened a crack. Amid this leak, the second stage performed the first burn and shut down the engines.

In the next phase, the liquid oxygen leak led to excessive engine component cooling including engine ignition fluid suppliers. Therefore, the engine struck with a hard start and damaged the hardware.

Sequentially, the upper stage lost its altitude control but managed to deploy Starlink satellites and complete the stage passivation process.

SpaceX established contact with 10 satellites and attempted to raise their altitude. Due to high- environmental drag and low perigee of 135km, all 20 Starlink satellites re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere.

The company confirmed that these Satellites were self-destructed upon reentry and posed no danger to public safety. The data from this anomaly is being observed and will to improve Falcon 9’s design.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Lifting Off (Image Source – SpaceX)

Mission Detail

This Falcon 9 return mission will liftoff on Saturday from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The first launch window is targeted for 12:21 a.m. ET and backup opportunities will be available until 4:21 a.m. ET. The mission can also fly on Sunday, July 28 if needed at the same time.

The first stage supporting this mission is completing its 17th flight. After stage separation, SpaceX will return the rocket on a droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

A live webcast of the mission will be online 5-10 minutes prior to liftoff on social media site X.

(source – SpaceX)