Falcon 9 Cleared for Return Amidst Starlink Mishap Investigation

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has granted SpaceX's request to resume flights of the Falcon 9 rocket amidst an ongoing investigation of a recent Starlink mission anomaly. The Falcon 9's grounding on Wednesday marks its second this year. Future missions, including a NASA astronaut launch, are expected to proceed as planned.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has greenlit SpaceX's Falcon 9 vehicle for a return to flight operations, despite an ongoing investigation into an anomaly during its latest Starlink mission. SpaceX received this approval merely a day after making the request, confirming that flights may resume as long as all other licensing requirements are adhered to.

Earlier this week, the FAA grounded the Falcon 9 following an unsuccessful landing attempt during a routine Starlink mission. This marks the second grounding for the rocket this year, with the first occurring in July due to a second-stage failure during another Starlink mission.

Despite the recent setback, SpaceX's Falcon 9 successfully launched a new batch of Starlink satellites into orbit from Florida. However, the rocket's reusable first-stage booster toppled into the ocean post-launch. SpaceX's extensive fleet of reusable Falcon boosters, launched first in 2010, has enabled the company to maintain an unmatched launch frequency, even ahead of its rivals. Future missions, including a launch involving NASA astronauts in late September, are anticipated to continue as planned.

(With inputs from agencies.)