A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 20 Starlink satellites to orbit from California on July 11, 2024. The second stage failed shortly after this picture was taken.NASA is waiting to see if there will be"schedule impacts" for its next astronaut mission aboard SpaceX after a rocket failure last week, the agency said in a recent statement.spacecraft. The next scheduled effort, known as Crew-9, was supposed to send four astronauts aloft in mid-August.
"Crew safety and mission assurance are top priorities for NASA," agency officials said in an e-mailed statement late Friday , adding they will"provide updates on agency missions including potential schedule impacts, if any, as more information becomes available." SpaceX, the statement added, has been providing information to NASA as the anomaly investigation proceeds.
Aside from the ISS, SpaceX is also supposed to send a commercial astronaut mission into space this month with Crew Dragon and Falcon 9. Known as, the effort — funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman — plans a high-orbiting mission above Earth that will feature the first commercial"SpaceX has an incredible track record with Falcon 9. I can say from personal experience they are very transparent when issues arise," Isaacman said in a, formerly Twitter, last week.
Elizabeth Howell , Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer forfor 10 years before joining full-time.