CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – SpaceX faced a setback during the Starlink 8-6 mission as the reusable Falcon 9 booster, tail number B1062, failed to land successfully on the droneship ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’. This incident marks the first time in over three years that SpaceX has lost a booster during a landing attempt, disrupting a streak of 267 successful landings.
While the primary focus of the mission was the deployment of 21 Starlink satellites, the landing failure of booster B1062 highlighted the importance of SpaceX’s business model centered around reusability. Following the mishap, SpaceX decided to postpone the Starlink 9-5 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base to allow for a thorough review of the landing data.
Prior to this incident, the most recent landing failure occurred in February 2021. The failed landing attempt took place during the Starlink 19 v1.0 mission, involving the booster B1059 on the ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ droneship. Despite the setback, SpaceX proceeded with the Starlink 8-6 mission following the delay of the Polaris Dawn astronaut launch due to weather concerns.
The Starlink 8-6 mission successfully launched from Space Launch Complex 40, marking the 23rd flight of booster B1062. This particular booster had previously supported various missions, including the deployment of GPS satellites, astronaut missions, and multiple Starlink flights.
During the mission, 21 Starlink satellites, including those with Direct to Cell capabilities, were successfully deployed into orbit. This deployment brings the total number of DTC Starlink satellites launched by SpaceX to 155, further expanding the company’s internet coverage capabilities.
Looking ahead, the Polaris Dawn mission is scheduled to launch at a later date following the delay caused by unfavorable weather conditions for the planned return from space. The upcoming mission will include an on-orbit demonstration of Starlink connectivity by the astronauts on board, showcasing advancements in communication technology for space exploration.
Overall, while the recent landing failure poses a setback for SpaceX, the successful deployment of Starlink satellites and the upcoming demonstrations during the Polaris Dawn mission reflect the company’s ongoing commitment to innovation and progress in space exploration.