FALCON 9 SECOND-STAGE ANOMALY:
It is not often we see a Falcon 9 anomaly. This rocket is so well tested and has had so many successful launches that it may seem unbelievable that even the slightest anomaly could happen. However, that is exactly what has happened on the Starlink Group 1732 mission.
A Falcon 9 second stage failed to execute its planned de-orbit burn, after successfully deploying its Starlink payload on February 2nd. The vehicle completed ascent and nominal satellite insertion without issue, but the planned de-orbit burn did not occur, leaving the second stage in a 110 x 241 km orbit that decayed in under 12 hours.
SpaceX reported that the Merlin Vacuum engine failed to reignite in preparation for the de-orbit maneuver, resulting in an off-nominal condition. They passivated the stage by venting access propellants, pressurized fluids, and draining batteries to minimize the risk of any energetic event in orbit. This is the second such de-orbit failure in approximately one year and follows a prior Starlink mission where a second stage failed to de-orbit, resulting in it re-entering the atmosphere overpopulated areas.
Other previous anomalies include second-stage de-orbit errors and an in-flight anomaly during ascent. The FAA mandated a mishap investigation and required SpaceX to identify corrective actions. Most of the causes were traced back to the Merlin Vacuum engine ignition anomaly. All corrective actions were completed and cleared the Falcon 9 to resume flights.
Although SpaceX has paused all further Falcon 9 launches during the investigation, they still remain positive and do not expect any delays to the upcoming Crew-12 mission. Operations will shift crew and cargo missions primarily to Launch Complex 40, with LC-39A being reconfigured for methane/LOX refueling for future Falcon and heavy-class missions.
ARTEMIS II WET DRESS REHEARSAL:
During the test, teams loaded the SLS core and upper stages with liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen and executed major countdown checkpoints. The simulation proceeded until late in the terminal count when a persistant hydrogen leak exceeded acceptable levels.
Engineers applied mitigation procedures developed from the previous Artemis I hydrogen features, including paused hydrogen flow to allow hardware contraction and seal reseating.
Though this suppressed the leak intermittently, the leak resurfaced at T-5:15 min in terminal count and triggered an automatic termination of the rehearsal. The WDR also exposed delays in the Orion crew cabin closeout operations, including seal and valve adjustments, contributing to schedule overruns in the limited test window.
As a result, NASA postponed the Artemis II launch to no earlier than March, with new windows under review and a second WDR planned after data review and corrective work on the TSMU.
OTHER NEWS:
Astra Space continued engine development for Rocket 4, firing thrust chambers to test redesigned combustion elements aimed at increasing production efficiency. The company also demonstrated dual xenon thrusters firing simultaneously in a test chamber.
Stoke Space tested its Zenith full-flow staged combustion engine, pushing turbo machinery to its operational suction limits in prep for first-stage application on the fully reusable Nova rocket.
ISRO successfully tested a subscale 3D-printed thrust chamber to 56 bar, a key step toward its next generation methane engine, with further injector optimization testing planned.
The European Space Agency assisted The Exploration Company in demonstrating a resonance-based engine igniter that uses acoustic amplification to achieve propellant ignition, providing a lightweight, reusable ignition approach.
Axiom Space secured the fifth private astronaut mission to the ISS, targeting early 2027 with up to 14 days aboard the station and planning integration with Voyager Technologies for payload operations.
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