Fri Oct 04 23:37:04 UTC 2024: ## SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rocket Grounded Again After Landing Malfunction

**CAPE CANAVERAL, FL** – SpaceX’s workhorse Falcon 9 rocket has been grounded for the third time in three months following an off-nominal landing after successfully launching the Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission, which successfully delivered astronauts to the ISS on Sunday, saw the rocket’s second-stage booster experience an unexpected deorbit burn, causing it to land outside the targeted area.

SpaceX confirmed the issue in a post on X, stating that they will investigate the problem before resuming launches. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also initiated an investigation into the incident. While acknowledging the landing malfunction, the FAA noted that no public injuries or property damage occurred.

This is the third time in three months that the Falcon 9 has been grounded. In July, a mishap with the booster led to the loss of a batch of Starlink satellites, marking the company’s first mission failure in over seven years. In August, the rocket was briefly grounded after a failed landing attempt.

These recent incidents have coincided with growing tensions between SpaceX and the FAA. The company has criticized the agency’s investigations and the pace at which it approves rocket launches. In September, Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO, slammed the FAA over delays to the Starship rocket launch, claiming that such delays would hinder humanity’s journey to Mars. Musk has also accused the regulator of playing favorites, arguing that Boeing should face harsher penalties for issues with its Starliner spacecraft.

Meanwhile, the Crew-9 mission marks a significant step in the ongoing space race. SpaceX has been tasked with bringing home two astronauts stranded on the ISS by Boeing’s Starliner, which experienced glitches during its maiden crewed flight. SpaceX is expected to return the astronauts to Earth in February at the earliest.

The company’s ongoing success with its reusable rocket technology has put it ahead of Boeing in the space race, leading to frequent taunts from Musk towards the aerospace giant. SpaceX has not yet commented on the latest grounding.

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