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For the first time in nearly a decade, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket experienced a malfunction while attempting to deliver a batch of internet satellites into orbit on Thursday night.
The launch, which occurred around 10:30 p.m. local time at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, is a rare mishap for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, which routinely flies NASA astronauts to orbit.
SpaceX released a statement explaining the failure noting, “the second stage engine did not complete its second burn. As a result, the Starlink satellites were deployed into a lower orbit than intended orbit. SpaceX has made contact with five of the satellites so far and is attempting to have them raise orbit using their ion thrusters.”
