SPACEX

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket evening launch doesn't go as planned

The Starlink satellites were deployed into a lower than intended orbit, according to SpaceX.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket viewed in Orange County.
Susanne Strauss

A Falcon 9 rocket launch didn't go as planned for SpaceX Thursday evening as the second stage engine experienced some failures.

The engine failed to complete a second burn, deploying the Starlink satellites into lower than intended orbit, according to SpaceX.

"SpaceX has made contact with 5 of the satellites so far and is attempting to have them raise orbit using their ion thrusters," wrote the spacecraft company on X, formerly Twitter.

The Falcon 9 rocket carrying 20 Starlink satellites launched from the Vandenberg Space Station in California.

The Falcon 9 is a reusable rocket and is used to transport satellites and people into Earth orbit and beyond.

There have been a total of 352 total Falcon 9 rocket launches, 283 of which have had reflights.

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