Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 9-3 launch

SpaceXLaunch FailureCommunications

Starlink Group 9‑3

Name: Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 9-3
Start: 2024-07-12T02:35:00Z
Location: Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Falcon 9 Block 5

Launched Fri, Jul 12 · 2:35 AM UTC2024-07-12 02:35 UTCSpace Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Lifted off
Launch failure
Booster landed on Of Course I Still Love You

What happened Watch the replay

What Happened

An oxygen leak caused a failure of the second stage engine during its second burn leading to the loss of all Starlink satellites.

From Launch Library 2 · updated Sun, Jul 14 · 11:24 AM UTC

Launch failure

Target: Low Earth Orbit

Falcon 9 Block 5 lifted off with Starlink Group 9-3, but the launch failed.

Booster

B1063 Landed

The first stage landed on Of Course I Still Love You, on its 19th flight.

Waiting on the Cause

No cause has been given yet. What SpaceX finds will be added here, and to the updates below.

Replay

Replay: SpaceX Starlink Group 9-3

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 2:35 AM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Countdown9

T−38:001:57 AMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:002:00 AMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−35:002:00 AMStart of propelland loading
T−16:002:19 AMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:002:28 AMStart of engine chilling
T−1:002:34 AMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−1:002:34 AMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−0:452:34 AMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:032:34 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Show the countdown (9 steps)

T−38:001:57 AMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:002:00 AMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−35:002:00 AMStart of propelland loading
T−16:002:19 AMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:002:28 AMStart of engine chilling
T−1:002:34 AMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−1:002:34 AMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−0:452:34 AMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:032:34 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Ascent6

T+0:002:35 AMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+1:072:36 AMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:252:37 AMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:282:37 AMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:352:37 AMFirst start of the second engine
T+3:022:38 AMSeparation of the payload fairing

Booster Return4

T+6:012:41 AMStart of the atmospheric entry burn
T+6:272:41 AMEnd of the atmospheric entry burn
T+7:492:42 AMStart of the first stage landing burn
T+8:122:43 AMLanding of the first stage

Second Stage and Payload4

T+8:392:43 AMFirst cut-off of the second engine
T+52:203:27 AMSecond start of the second engine
T+52:213:27 AMSecond cut-off of the second engine
T+59:143:34 AMDeployment of the Starlink stack from the rocket

Mission

A batch of 20 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.

Launch Provider

SpaceX

Commercial · United States of America · Founded 2002 · CEO Elon Musk

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. SpaceX operates from many pads, on the East Coast of the US they operate from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and historic LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. They also operate from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, usually for polar launches. Another launch site is being developed at Boca Chica, Texas.

Launches

742

Successful

727

98%

Landings

687

of 715

Upcoming

136

scheduled

FliesFalcon Starship Dragon

All SpaceX launches Website Wikipedia

Updates

Jul 14 · 11:24 AM
All satellites are believed to have reentered the atmosphere. Downgrading the outcome to full failure.
juststephen
Jul 12 · 2:41 PM
A RUD of the second stage engine during its second burn led to deployment of the Starlink satellites into a lower than intended orbit. Some may be salvageable using their onboard propulsion to compensate.
Nosu
Jul 12 · 4:50 AM
Payload deployment confirmed, orbit data pending.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jul 12 · 2:35 AM
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jul 11 · 5:52 PM
T-0 is accurate to the second
Nosu

Show earlier updates

Jul 11 · 5:51 PM
Updating window
Nosu
Jul 10 · 3:41 PM
Delayed by a day
Nosu
Jul 9 · 9:44 PM
Setting GO
Nosu
Jul 8 · 3:41 PM
Delayed to NET July 11 UTC per NOTAMs R0161/24.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jul 6 · 5:16 PM
T-0 is accurate to the second
Nosu
Jul 5 · 5:58 PM
Delayed to July 9
Nosu
Jul 3 · 5:07 PM
One day slip per new NOTAMs.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jul 2 · 12:39 AM
NET July 7 UTC per NOTAMs.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 11 · 1:21 AM
Adding launch.
Cosmic_Penguin

Falcon 9 Block 5

Vehicle history

Height

70m

Diameter

3.6m

To low Earth orbit

22,800kg

Liftoff thrust

7,607kN

Space Launch Now for iOS and Android

Follow SpaceX to hear when findings come out and when Falcon 9 Block 5 flies next.

See what's in the app

Scan to open on your phone

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SpaceXLaunch FailureCommunications

Starlink Group 9‑3

Falcon 9 Block 5

Launched Fri, Jul 12 · 2:35 AM UTC2024-07-12 02:35 UTCSpace Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Lifted off
Launch failure
Booster landed on Of Course I Still Love You

What happened Watch the replay

What Happened

An oxygen leak caused a failure of the second stage engine during its second burn leading to the loss of all Starlink satellites.

From Launch Library 2 · updated Sun, Jul 14 · 11:24 AM UTC

Launch failure

Target: Low Earth Orbit

Falcon 9 Block 5 lifted off with Starlink Group 9-3, but the launch failed.

Booster

B1063 Landed

The first stage landed on Of Course I Still Love You, on its 19th flight.

Waiting on the Cause

No cause has been given yet. What SpaceX finds will be added here, and to the updates below.

Replay

Replay: SpaceX Starlink Group 9-3

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 2:35 AM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Countdown9

T−38:001:57 AMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:002:00 AMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−35:002:00 AMStart of propelland loading
T−16:002:19 AMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:002:28 AMStart of engine chilling
T−1:002:34 AMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−1:002:34 AMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−0:452:34 AMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:032:34 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Show the countdown (9 steps)

T−38:001:57 AMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:002:00 AMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−35:002:00 AMStart of propelland loading
T−16:002:19 AMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:002:28 AMStart of engine chilling
T−1:002:34 AMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−1:002:34 AMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−0:452:34 AMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:032:34 AMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Ascent6

T+0:002:35 AMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+1:072:36 AMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:252:37 AMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:282:37 AMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:352:37 AMFirst start of the second engine
T+3:022:38 AMSeparation of the payload fairing

Booster Return4

T+6:012:41 AMStart of the atmospheric entry burn
T+6:272:41 AMEnd of the atmospheric entry burn
T+7:492:42 AMStart of the first stage landing burn
T+8:122:43 AMLanding of the first stage

Second Stage and Payload4

T+8:392:43 AMFirst cut-off of the second engine
T+52:203:27 AMSecond start of the second engine
T+52:213:27 AMSecond cut-off of the second engine
T+59:143:34 AMDeployment of the Starlink stack from the rocket

Mission

A batch of 20 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.

Launch Provider

SpaceX

Commercial · United States of America · Founded 2002 · CEO Elon Musk

Launches

742

Successful

727

98%

Landings

687

of 715

Upcoming

136

scheduled

FliesFalcon Starship Dragon

All SpaceX launches Website Wikipedia

Updates

Jul 14 · 11:24 AM
All satellites are believed to have reentered the atmosphere. Downgrading the outcome to full failure.
juststephen
Jul 12 · 2:41 PM
A RUD of the second stage engine during its second burn led to deployment of the Starlink satellites into a lower than intended orbit. Some may be salvageable using their onboard propulsion to compensate.
Nosu
Jul 12 · 4:50 AM
Payload deployment confirmed, orbit data pending.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jul 12 · 2:35 AM
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jul 11 · 5:52 PM
T-0 is accurate to the second
Nosu

Show earlier updates

Jul 11 · 5:51 PM
Updating window
Nosu
Jul 10 · 3:41 PM
Delayed by a day
Nosu
Jul 9 · 9:44 PM
Setting GO
Nosu
Jul 8 · 3:41 PM
Delayed to NET July 11 UTC per NOTAMs R0161/24.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jul 6 · 5:16 PM
T-0 is accurate to the second
Nosu
Jul 5 · 5:58 PM
Delayed to July 9
Nosu
Jul 3 · 5:07 PM
One day slip per new NOTAMs.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jul 2 · 12:39 AM
NET July 7 UTC per NOTAMs.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 11 · 1:21 AM
Adding launch.
Cosmic_Penguin

Falcon 9 Block 5

Vehicle history

Height

70m

Diameter

3.6m

To low Earth orbit

22,800kg

Liftoff thrust

7,607kN

Next From Vandenberg SFB

Vandenberg SFB schedule

Oct31Sat

Starlink Group 15-18SpaceX · Falcon 9 Block 5 · Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USALow Earth OrbitGo for launch3:48 AM UTC Nov3Tue

USSF-432SpaceX · Falcon 9 Block 5 · Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USALow Earth OrbitGo for launch1:42 AM UTC

Space Launch Now for iOS and Android

Follow SpaceX to hear when findings come out and when Falcon 9 Block 5 flies next.

See what's in the app

Scan to open on your phone

Starlink Group 9‑3

What Happened

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return4

Second Stage and Payload4

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Starlink Group 9‑3

What Happened

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return4

Second Stage and Payload4

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Next From Vandenberg SFB

Next From Vandenberg SFB

Starlink Group 9‑3

What Happened

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return4

Second Stage and Payload4

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Updates When There's News.

Starlink Group 9‑3

What Happened

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return4

Second Stage and Payload4

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Next From Vandenberg SFB

Updates When There's News.

Next From Vandenberg SFB