SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rocket Successfully Launches After FAA Approval

JFK Space Center – SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket early Saturday morning after the Federal Aviation Administration grounded the famed rocket fleet due to “anomalies” during a Starlink launch in July.

The Falcon Spreads Its Wings Again

SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center at 1:45 a.m. ET on Saturday morning. The launch was the first since receiving FAA approval.

The weather conditions were favorable, with an 85% chance of good lift-off conditions according to the 45th Weather Squadron. The mission had a four-hour launch window, and the first stage booster landed on the “Just Read the instructions” drone in the Atlantic Ocean.

About Starlink 10-9 Mission

The Starlink 10-9 mission successfully deployed 23 satellites into low Earth orbit, adding to the existing constellation. Dr. Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics documented the satellites and noted a total of 6,215 in orbit.

• 6,215 in orbit
• 5,848 in orbit

Reason for Falcon 9 Grounding

Following a malfunction during the Starlink 9-3 mission in July, the Falcon 9 rocket was grounded by the FAA. The issue was traced back to a liquid oxygen leak in the second-stage engine that prevented proper combustion and led to engine shutdown.

After conducting a successful static fire test and addressing the safety concerns, SpaceX received clearance from the FAA to resume Falcon 9 operations.

The FAA statement confirmed that there were no public safety concerns and the investigation into the anomaly was ongoing.

Transitioning from the grounding phase to successful resumption, SpaceX demonstrated its commitment to safety and reliability in space missions.

With the successful launch of the Falcon 9 rocket, SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of space exploration and satellite deployment.