FAA review clears SpaceX's Falcon 9 for Hera mission launch
SpaceX is scheduled to launch the European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft on Monday from Cape Canaveral in Florida, as reported by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
TroibNews 
SpaceX is preparing to launch the European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft on Monday from Cape Canaveral in Florida, as confirmed by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
This liftoff is scheduled for 10:52 a.m. ET and signifies the return to operation for SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, which had been grounded due to a malfunction in its second stage.
The FAA granted approval for the launch on Sunday, stating: "The SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle is authorized to return to flight only for the planned Hera mission scheduled to launch on October 7 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida." The agency noted that potential public safety risks associated with this mission are reduced because the second stage will not be reentering the atmosphere, addressing concerns from a previous incident.
The Falcon 9 had been grounded following a malfunction during the Crew-9 mission that caused its second stage to fall into the Pacific Ocean outside the designated safety zone. This September incident marked the third grounding in just three months, leading the FAA to mandate a comprehensive investigation by SpaceX.
Hera's mission focuses on studying the outcomes of NASA's 2022 DART mission, which successfully changed the trajectory of the asteroid Dimorphos. The data gathered through Hera will contribute to improving future strategies for planetary defense against potentially hazardous asteroids. Notably, the DART spacecraft was launched aboard a Falcon 9 in 2021.
Additionally, SpaceX has come under regulatory scrutiny, including a proposed $633,000 fine from the FAA on September 17 for safety violations linked to two Falcon 9 launches in 2023. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker remarked that SpaceX should "operate at the highest level of safety," especially given its two decades of operation. In response, SpaceX maintained that it is "the safest, most reliable launch provider in the world."
Moreover, the FAA's actions have resulted in delays for SpaceX's Starship 5 launch, which was originally set for September. This delay stems from the company’s inability to promptly complete a necessary sonic boom analysis, with a decision on the launch license anticipated in late November.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has openly criticized the FAA's regulatory measures and called for Whitaker's resignation. Earlier this year, the FAA had also imposed a $175,000 fine on SpaceX for not submitting specific safety data prior to a Starlink satellite launch in August 2022, which the company subsequently paid.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
This liftoff is scheduled for 10:52 a.m. ET and signifies the return to operation for SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, which had been grounded due to a malfunction in its second stage.
The FAA granted approval for the launch on Sunday, stating: "The SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle is authorized to return to flight only for the planned Hera mission scheduled to launch on October 7 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida." The agency noted that potential public safety risks associated with this mission are reduced because the second stage will not be reentering the atmosphere, addressing concerns from a previous incident.
The Falcon 9 had been grounded following a malfunction during the Crew-9 mission that caused its second stage to fall into the Pacific Ocean outside the designated safety zone. This September incident marked the third grounding in just three months, leading the FAA to mandate a comprehensive investigation by SpaceX.
Hera's mission focuses on studying the outcomes of NASA's 2022 DART mission, which successfully changed the trajectory of the asteroid Dimorphos. The data gathered through Hera will contribute to improving future strategies for planetary defense against potentially hazardous asteroids. Notably, the DART spacecraft was launched aboard a Falcon 9 in 2021.
Additionally, SpaceX has come under regulatory scrutiny, including a proposed $633,000 fine from the FAA on September 17 for safety violations linked to two Falcon 9 launches in 2023. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker remarked that SpaceX should "operate at the highest level of safety," especially given its two decades of operation. In response, SpaceX maintained that it is "the safest, most reliable launch provider in the world."
Moreover, the FAA's actions have resulted in delays for SpaceX's Starship 5 launch, which was originally set for September. This delay stems from the company’s inability to promptly complete a necessary sonic boom analysis, with a decision on the launch license anticipated in late November.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has openly criticized the FAA's regulatory measures and called for Whitaker's resignation. Earlier this year, the FAA had also imposed a $175,000 fine on SpaceX for not submitting specific safety data prior to a Starlink satellite launch in August 2022, which the company subsequently paid.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
