2023-12-27 08:15:23
The day before Christmas Eve, SpaceX set a new record thanks to its Falcon 9 rocket. The reusable launcher registered B1058 launched on December 23 from Cape Canaveral (Florida) for what was its 19th mission with the objective to place a batch of 23 Starlink satellites into orbit. Never before has a rocket accomplished so many takeoffs.
Everything went nominally, from launch to the return of the Falcon 9 B1058 first stage which landed gently at sea, on one of SpaceX’s barges called Just Read the Instructions. A routine that nothing seems to disrupt with 90 successful launches this year! And yet, this beautiful, well-oiled mechanism stopped unexpectedly.
Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/PRLngBGui8
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 23, 2023
This Falcon 9 launcher marked the history of SpaceX
In a message published on X, SpaceX has just announced the loss of the Falcon 9 B1058 booster during the return journey from the barge to the barge on which it had landed. Rocked by rough seas, the rocket overturned on the platform and broke into two parts, one of which fell into the sea. During transport to port early this morning, the propeller overturned on the droneship due to strong winds and waves. The new Falcon boosters feature improved landing legs that can self-stabilize and alleviate this type of problem », writes SpaceX.
Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, completing the first 19th launch and landing of a booster pic.twitter.com/WoVx0R0Esj
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 23, 2023
The incident is all the more unfortunate as this copy was not only the record holder for the number of launches. It was also this Falcon 9 B1058 that launched the Demo-2 mission of the Crew Dragon capsule with astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken on May 30, 2020. This was the first manned flight launched from the United States since the last space shuttle mission in July 2011.
Falcon 9 B1058 ????????????????????
A portion of the record-setting Falcon 9 booster remains on board the Just Read the Instructions droneship. After its 19th launch and landing, the vehicle tipped over in rough seas during the transit back to Port Canaveral, and its top portion broke off.… pic.twitter.com/TaYhgmHL9R
— John Kraus (@johnkrausphotos) December 26, 2023
It is therefore a part of the history of SpaceX and aeronautics that has been lost in the abyss. Elon Musk’s aerospace company has not yet indicated whether or not it will attempt to recover the missing part of this brave launcher.
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