CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A SpaceX rocket has failed for the first time in nearly a decade, leaving the company’s internet satellites in an orbit so low that they're doomed to fall through the atmosphere and burn up.
The Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from California on Thursday night, carrying 20 Starlink satellites. Several minutes into the flight, the upper stage engine malfunctioned. SpaceX on Friday blamed a liquid oxygen leak.
The company said flight controllers managed to make contact with half of the satellites and attempted to boost them to a higher orbit using onboard ion thrusters. But with the low end of their orbit only 84 miles (135 kilometers) above Earth — less than half what was intended — “our maximum available thrust is unlikely to be enough to successfully raise the satellites,” the company said via X.
SpaceX said the satellites will reenter the atmosphere and burn up. There was no mention of when they might come down. More than 6,000 orbiting Starlinks currently provide internet service to customers in some of the most remote corners of the world.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the problem must be fixed before Falcon rockets can fly again.
It was not known if or how the accident might impact SpaceX's upcoming crew flights. A billionaire's spaceflight is scheduled for July 31 from Florida with plans for the first private spacewalk, followed in mid-August by an astronaut flight to the International Space Station for NASA.
The tech entrepreneur who will lead the private flight, Jared Isaacman, said Friday that SpaceX's Falcon 9 has “an incredible track record" and as well as an emergency escape system.
The last launch failure occurred in 2015 during a space station cargo run. Another rocket exploded the following year during testing on the ground.
SpaceX's Elon Musk said the high flight rate will make it easier to identify and correct the problem.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
This image from video provided by SpaceX shows the upper stage engine of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which blasted off from California on Thursday, July 11, 2024. The rocket, carrying 20 Starlink satellites, malfunctioned during the blast, leaving the company’s internet satellites in a precariously low orbit. (SpaceX via AP)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Isiah Kiner-Falefa had three hits, including a first-inning homer, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the skidding Seattle Mariners 7-2 on Saturday.
Rowdy Tellez and Jared Triolo also connected for the Pirates, who have won the first two games of the three-game series following a 10-game losing streak. Joey Bart added a pair of doubles.
Pittsburgh left-hander Bailey Falter (6-7) matched a career high with eight strikeouts while allowing two runs in 5 2/3 innings. He permitted eight hits and walked none.
“I’m not a guy that punches a lot of tickets, so that’s always nice to see,” Falter said of the strikeouts. “But I’m not really too worried about that. Just want to go out there, put up zeros and get these guys in the dugout as quick as possible.”
It was the fifth consecutive loss for Seattle, which began the day in second place in the AL West.
The Pirates had to hang on in the ninth inning after the Mariners loaded the bases on a walk and two hit batters by Domingo German. David Bednar relieved with a five-run lead and retired three straight batters for his 22nd save.
Kiner-Falefa hit his first home run since he was acquired in a July 30 trade with Toronto, a 406-foot drive off Luis Castillo. It also was the first time the veteran infielder led off the first with a homer.
“I felt like I got it pretty good,” Kiner-Falefa said. “Really good pitcher on the mound, so tried to get under the ball and got it. It felt good to get that out of the way and have a little momentum right there.”
Kiner-Falefa’s eight home runs are a career high for the seven-year veteran.
“Just try to play my game, just try to continue to hit the ball hard and swing at good pitches,” he said. “Felt like I’ve always key-holed myself into being a slap hitter, so trying to get my swing off and help the team and drive in runs.”
Victor Robles hit a tying RBI single for Seattle in the second, but the Pirates went ahead to stay when Tellez connected for a two-run shot in the fourth.
Triolo’s solo homer in the seventh off JT Chargois lifted Pittsburgh to a 5-2 lead.
Castillo (10-12) permitted four runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked three.
The right-hander had pitched at least six innings in each of his last seven starts.
Robles, Jorge Polanco and Mitch Haniger had two hits apiece for the Mariners. Randy Arozarena struck out in each of his five at-bats.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: Haniger (quadriceps) was removed from the game after the fourth inning and replaced in right field by Luke Raley.
Pirates: DH Andrew McCutchen (left knee inflammation) was placed on the 10-day injured list, and INF Alika Williams was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis. ... SS Oneil Cruz (left ankle discomfort) was in the lineup as the DH a day after departing in the seventh inning when he was injured running the bases. ... LHP Ryan Borucki (left triceps inflammation) was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Saturday night with Indianapolis.
UP NEXT
The three-game series concludes Sunday with RHP George Kirby (8-9, 3.42 ERA) starting for the Mariners against RHP Jake Woodford (0-4, 5.87). Kirby is the only pitcher in major league history with at least 50 career starts to have more starts (81) than walks (58).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Seattle Mariners' Mitch Haniger celebrates in the dugout after scoring during the second inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
Pittsburgh Pirates' Rowdy Tellez rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
Pittsburgh Pirates' Bryan De La Cruz hits a single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo, right, hands the ball to manager Scott Servais, left, during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
Pittsburgh Pirates' Rowdy Tellez, right, is greeted by third base coach Mike Rabelo, left, as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
Pittsburgh Pirates' Rowdy Tellez watches his two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
