SpaceX Completes Deployment of Twenty Satellites

Just 15 days after the Falcon 9 launch failure. SpaceX Returns to Space to Launch 23 Satellites into Orbit of its Starlink constellation. It did so at 7:45 a.m. mainland Spanish time from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA.

The mission was adjusted according to the flight plan developed by SpaceX, and the first stage returned to the surface without incident eight minutes after launch. The SpaceX unmanned vehicle was named Just read the instructions (Just read the instructions in Spanish translation) He received it at a point in the Atlantic Ocean where he landed and headed towards the American coast.

The second and final stage, responsible for placing the cargo at the appointed time and place, continued on its way according to schedule and launched all 23 satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO, initials in English), from where they will provide internet coverage to Starlink customers. The mission lasted 63 minutes from launch.

This is the first take-off of Elon Musk’s company since July 11 last year, when One of the Falcon 9s exploded after an hour of space flightAt that time, in order to study what had happened, the entire launch schedule was paralyzed and postponed until the reasons for the failed mission were determined.

The first stages of the flight went according to plan, and it was only after the second stage had launched that SpaceX discovered something was wrong. As it turned out, the mission’s failure was caused by a leak of liquid oxygen, a compound that is stored at very low temperatures and is used as an oxidizer in rockets.

This caused what SpaceX calls a “rapid unplanned disassembly” (RUD), a term the company often uses to describe an explosion. However, despite the mishap, the satellites were deployed safely, according to Sarah Walker, SpaceX’s Dragon mission director.

The missile developed a malfunction in its propulsion system and, urgently deployed the satellites on boardwhich were placed in a lower orbit than planned. This caused a premature re-entry into the atmosphere, although it did not pose a danger.

Walker also explained on Friday that SpaceX had determined the leak was caused by a crack in the line connected to the pressure sensorwhich had suffered some wear due to engine vibration. Also to the weakening of the clamp that was supposed to hold it in place, as stated cnn.

The oxygen leak caused “excessive cooling” of engine components, Walker explained, leaving the rocket without enough fuel to operate properly.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which issues licenses for commercial space launches and is responsible for assessing accidents, said Thursday that SpaceX’s rocket did not pose “public safety concerns.” Preparing for Falcon 9’s return to the launch pad.

“This public safety determination means that the Falcon 9 vehicle may return to flight service while the overall investigation remains open, provided that all other licensing requirements are met,” the FAA itself said.