FAA Gives the Green Light Despite Recent Anomaly

The Federal Aviation Administration has given SpaceX the go-ahead to resume Falcon 9 flight operations. The aircraft remains under investigation after a recent landing slip-up.

On August 29, the SpaceX Falcon 9 had a failed landing after successfully deploying 21 Starlink satellites into orbit. The agency reported that one of its landing legs had collapsed, causing its first-stage booster rocket to topple over into the Atlantic.

The FAA opened an investigation and grounded the spacecraft. SpaceX submitted a request to return flights a day later. This was approved on August 30 -- only 2 days after the Falcon’s very public tumble.

"The SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle may return to flight operations while the overall investigation of the anomaly during the Starlink Group 8-6 mission remains open,” the FAA clarified, “provided all other license requirements are met.”

SpaceX wasted no time after the FAA’s decision was released. They made back-to-back launches in two states, delivering 42 more Starlink satellites into orbit.

Later this month, the Falcon 9 is scheduled to take two NASA astronauts to the ISS onboard a Crew Dragon. They are expected to return early next year carrying two hitchhikers from the failed Boeing Starliner mission.

This is the second Falcon 9 investigation in the last two months. It was initially inspected after an upper-stage failure in early July, causing the destruction of 23 Starlink satellites. SpaceX patiently waited a whole two weeks before the spacecraft could return to flight.

The problematic booster had been a record breaker, completing 23 liftoffs with the Falcon 9. This is one more than any other SpaceX booster.

FMI: www.spacex.com