FAA grounds SpaceX after rocket burst into flames at landing, will this impact Elon Musk's private spacewalk mission?

On Wednesday, SpaceX faced a significant setback when one of its Falcon 9 rockets experienced a major fire accident. The first-stage booster toppled and burst into flames while landing on an ocean platform off the Florida coast. This incident, which occurred during the early hours, marks a rare and serious mishap for the company.

FAA Response and Investigation

Following the accident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has halted all Falcon 9 launches. The agency has mandated that SpaceX must complete a thorough investigation and submit its findings, along with corrective actions, for FAA approval before resuming any launches. This halt affects not only the recent mission but also the company's upcoming launches, including private and NASA crewed flights.

Impact on Upcoming Missions

The accident has created uncertainty around SpaceX's future missions. A private spaceflight from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center and a NASA crewed flight scheduled for late next month are now in question. Additionally, a planned launch of Starlink satellites from California was immediately cancelled. SpaceX must navigate through this investigation to determine how these delays will affect its spaceflight schedule.

(With inputs from AP)