SpaceX rocket accident leaves Starlink satellites in wrong orbit

A recent SpaceX rocket failure has left 20 Starlink satellites in a dangerously low orbit, leading to their inevitable reentry and destruction in Earth’s atmosphere. The Falcon 9 rocket, launched from California on July 11, 2024, experienced an upper stage engine malfunction due to a liquid oxygen leak. This is SpaceX’s first failure in nearly a decade. Despite attempts by flight controllers to raise the satellites’ orbits using onboard ion thrusters, the effort proved insufficient due to the satellites’ initial orbit being only 84 miles above Earth. Consequently, these satellites will burn up upon reentry. The Federal Aviation Administration has mandated a resolution to this issue before further Falcon rocket flights. Upcoming missions, including a private spacewalk and a NASA astronaut flight to the International Space Station, remain uncertain. Elon Musk assured that the frequent launch schedule would help quickly identify and rectify the problem.

Source: AP News