SpaceX’s statement regarding Falcon 9’s second stage anomaly

A SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle launched 20 Starlink satellites (Starlink-179 / Starlink 9-3) to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Station, California, on 12 July 2024, at 02:35 UTC (11 July, at 19:35 PDT). According to a statement released by SpaceX on 25 July 2024, “during the first burn of Falcon 9’s second stage engine, a liquid oxygen leak developed within the insulation around the upper stage engine”. At the second planned burn, “the engine experienced a hard start rather than a controlled burn, which damaged the engine hardware and caused the upper stage to subsequently lose attitude control”.
Credit: SpaceX
Music: “Ride of the Valkyries (by Wagner)” courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

[SciNewsRo]

SpaceX Starlink 180 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing, 27 July 2024
SpaceX Starlink 179 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing, 12 July 2024

[markholm]

The scrolling text with the bright patches in the background was difficult to read.

[WilliamDeVey]

That made a dry, technical piece of writing comparatively interesting. Thank you.

[RacefanPat]

Bloody hard to read. Did anyone actually try this before uploading??😊

[Jay-qsef]

Glad to see they're gonna be back in action soon (I liked the scrolling Star Wars text idk why everyone was so harsh about that)

[geraldmarfoe]

Very difficult to read with bright sun glint in the background.