All of Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket launches are on hold after a booster rocket toppled over in flames while attempting a landing on Wednesday.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded the company’s Falcon 9 rockets and immediately ordered an investigation following the predawn accident off the Florida coast. No injuries or public damage were reported, according to the Associated Press.
The AP reports that the rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station without incident and was able to launch all 21 Starlink internet satellites into orbit.
But the first-stage booster "fell over in a fireball" moments after landing on an ocean platform, the first such accident in years. It was the 23rd time this particular booster had launched, a recycling record for SpaceX, the AP reports.
A launch from California with more Starlinks was immediately called off following the accident.
SpaceX has also postponed its attempt to launch an expedition featuring an all-civilian crew that is aiming to carry out the first-ever spacewalk by private citizens. What could possibly go wrong?
The mission, known as Polaris Dawn, had been scheduled to take off from NASA's space center in Florida early on Wednesday morning.
Hours before the launch, SpaceX said it would be delayed “due to unfavorable weather forecasted” in the capsule’s splashdown areas.
It is unclear when the next attempt will be. An earlier one on Tuesday was also canceled due to a helium leak on the line connecting the tower to the rocket.
Despite the current issues, SpaceX is still due to launch two other astronauts for NASA late next month. Two seats will be set aside for the two astronauts who launched in June aboard Boeing’s new Starliner capsule, deemed unsafe by NASA for their return.