Perfecting the technology for reusable rockets is proving to be a more difficult task than expected as SpaceX suffers another setback with its Falcon 9 spacecraft.
Despite being able to launch two orbital satellites into space on Wednesday, June 15, the American aerospace company wasn't able to guide its reusable Falcon 9 rocket for a fourth successful landing on a droneship located in the Atlantic Ocean.
SpaceX said the spacecraft was able to hit its intended mark on the floating platform, but it failed to stick its landing.
In a message sent through Twitter, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk explained that while the ascent phase of the launch and the orbital satellites appeared to be in order, the booster rocket on the spacecraft sustained an "RUD," or a rapid unscheduled disassembly, during its landing on the droneship.
Falcon 9 Liftoff
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Wednesday at 10:29 a.m. EDT.
Less than 3 minutes later, the Falcon 9's two-stage boosters separated from the rest of the rocket, with its upper stage that was carrying the ABS-2A and Eutelsat 117 West B communications satellites continuing its ascent into space and its first stage heading back to Earth.
About 9 minutes following the rocket's launch, the first stage made its descent onto the deck of the droneship Of Course I Still Love You that was floating in the Atlantic. SpaceX was covering the landing through a live video feed, but it was suddenly cut out just as the reusable spacecraft was landing on the platform.
It was unclear what exactly happened during the landing attempt at first, but Musk later announced that the Falcon 9 booster did fail to make a safe touchdown on the droneship.
Prior to the Falcon 9's launch, SpaceX officials said they had anticipated that the landing attempt would be difficult.
In order to successfully deliver the orbital satellites into Earth's geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), the Falcon 9 had to travel at very high speeds. Its first stage was exposed to extremely high forces and temperatures during its return through the atmosphere.
Ascent phase & satellites look good, but booster rocket had a RUD on droneship
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 15, 2016
Looks like thrust was low on 1 of 3 landing engines. High g landings v sensitive to all engines operating at max. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 15, 2016
Musk said they have begun implementing upgrades on the Falcon 9 that would allow it to compensate in case there is a sudden thrust shortfall from its landing engines. The upgrades are expected to be finished by the end of the year.
The SpaceX chief added that Of Course I Still Love You is still operational and that the video of the spacecraft's landing attempt will be released later in the day.
