Replay: Falcon 9 booster explodes on landing after launching 21 Starlink satellites

Watch a replay of our live coverage as SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket with 21 satellites for Elon Musk's Starlink internet service. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station occurred at 3:48 a.m. EDT (0748 UTC) on Wednesday, August 28. The first-stage booster making its 23rd flight exploded after crash landing on SpaceX's drone ship 'A Shortfall of Gravitas', stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

The mission, designated Starlink 8-6, took a north-easterly trajectory on departure from the space coast. The 21 Starlink V2 Mini satellites, include 13 with direct to cellphone capabilities.

Commentary was provided by Spaceflight Now's Will Robinson Smith.

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[chllspace]

I watched her first flight and now her last. Thank you for your service, B1062.

[charlescole-pv]

Bummer about the landing, but SpaceXs history has been outstanding.

[clevergirl]

This was a record breaking re-flight for a falcon 9, B1062 heading up for the 23rd time,
sad to see the success streak of 268 landings come to a flamy end.
But wow, 268, successful landings in a row? there are rockets with launch streaks lower than that.
Also B1062 was Inspiration 4's booster, I wonder if Jared Isaacman watch this launch live, given Polaris Dawn's delay.

[bminerrolltide]

Likely a leak of hydraulic fluid that led to the leg collapsing. Fits with the strange color of the flame and dark smoke.

[antman]

This is possible in manned space flight, cargo too.
We must realize that for the next 30 years, spaceflight will continue to be very dangerous, the odds are better, but consequences are severe.
Alot of hard, long hours logged in by thousands of SpaceX assembly craftsmen & women, Hats off to all your WORK, you will solve this anomaly,
SpaceX Generation
🚀🇺🇸👷🌍🙏💲💫

[deniseelles]

Thank you for coverage SFN./Will . Disturbing end to this launch but most importantly no one was hurt. Hope Falcon 9's can fly again very soon.

[ColorNerdChris]

From SpaceX:
Standing down from our second @Starlink launch of the night to give the team time to review booster landing data from the previous launch. A new target launch date will be shared once available

[stgeorgeist]

booster did not explode as such? it seems leg or legs failed and it tipped over

[antman]

Hey come on, SpaceX, cutting FEED is a old NASA trick 🤔SHOW IMPACT EXPLOSION 🚀🔥

[SoundJudgment]

"Damn, Billy! I told you yesterday, you forgot to turn that last screw on the leg assembly, to...

[mysticimagesart]

Thanks for o great coverage. It's almost like the final entry burn didn't shut down and the thrust from the still burning flame pushed the rocket over.

[stevedrake]

Did a leg fail either break or failed to deploy?

[popsss]

The problem was around the grid fence. On the entry burn

[rtb]

Looks like one engine didn't shut off and pushed it over.

[guydemullet]

Honey, I’m home…oooof!!!!
DANG IT!!!
How many times have I told you kids not leave your Leggos in the middle of room!!!

[JamesKiraly-oznc]

Looks like a leg deploy failure on the right leg.

[crapton]

It looked like the booster was correcting a slight overshoot and got just outside its point of balance.

[tonymurphy]

You can see the leg support strut fail, that's what happened. I played it over and over and eventually I stopped it at the right moment to see it fail

[JudicialMermaid]

I bet that Billionaire that was supposed to go up for some casual sightseeing, but got delayed due to weather is grateful now after the fact 😂

[lorichambliss]

I'm just fascinated! And so amazed