Status
Failure
Starlink Group 9-3
Launch Time
Fri Jul 12, 2024 02:35 UTC
Fri Jul 12, 2024 02:35 UTC
The Falcon 9 second-stage engine failed to complete its second ignition due to a liquid oxygen leak, causing the planned orbit to be missed and the deployment of the Starlink satellites in an unusable low orbit with all satellites re-entering within hours of launch.
Leakage occurred in a sense line for a pressure sensor attached to the vehicle’s oxygen system that cracked due to fatigue, caused by high loading from engine vibration and looseness in the clamp that normally constrains the line.
Rocket
Vehicles
Mission Details
Starlink Group 9-3
SpaceX launch of a batch of Starlink v2-mini satellites for their second generation high-speed low earth orbit internet satellite constellation. Mission includes 13 Direct-to-Cell satellites and 7 V2-mini satellites.
Payloads: 20
Low Earth Orbit
Location
SLC-4E, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA
Stats
2024
132nd orbital launch attempt
SpaceX
374th mission
72nd mission of 2024
7th failed mission
Falcon 9
355th mission
69th mission of 2024
3rd failed mission