SpaceX Addresses Falcon 9 LOX Leak, Plans Starlink Launch on July 27 at Kennedy Space Center

Jul 25, 2024, 10:20 PM

SpaceX has experienced a recent anomaly with its Falcon 9 rocket, attributed to a LOX leak in a 'sense line' that monitored pressure in the system. Despite this setback, the company has swiftly addressed the issue and submitted a report to the FAA detailing the likely cause and corrective actions. SpaceX is targeting a return to flight with a Falcon 9 launch of 23 Starlink satellites on Saturday, July 27, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with liftoff scheduled for 12:21 a.m. ET. The incident underscores the importance of having multiple launch options, as noted by Elon Musk on July 25, who emphasized the role of Falcon 9 in the development of Starship. SpaceX has done an incredible job keeping stakeholders informed of the issue, investigation, resolution, and return to flight plan.