Overview
- The Feb. 2 Falcon 9 from Vandenberg deployed 25 Starlink satellites successfully, and the first stage completed its 31st landing on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You.
- SpaceX said it is reviewing telemetry to identify root cause and corrective actions before returning Falcon 9 to flight and did not provide a timeline.
- The second stage aborted its deorbit burn, was passivated, and was later tracked in a roughly 110 by 241 kilometer orbit that analysts expect will lead to a near-term reentry.
- The FAA has not announced a grounding, and a NASA official said the agency is investigating the mishap as SpaceX shifts near-term launches, including Florida missions now targeting Feb. 14 and Feb. 16.
- NASA’s Crew-12 flight to the International Space Station, currently slated for Feb. 11 on a Falcon 9, could be delayed pending the outcome of the review.