SpaceX’s statement regarding Falcon 9’s second stage anomaly

A SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle launched 20 Starlink satellites (Starlink-179 / Starlink 9-3) to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Station, California, on 12 July 2024, at 02:35 UTC (11 July, at 19:35 PDT). According to a statement released by SpaceX on 25 July 2024, “during the first burn of Falcon 9’s second stage engine, a liquid oxygen leak developed within the insulation around the upper stage engine”. At the second planned burn, “the engine experienced a hard start rather than a controlled burn, which damaged the engine hardware and caused the upper stage to subsequently lose attitude control”. Credit: SpaceX Music: “Ride of the Valkyries (by Wagner)” courtesy of YouTube Audio Library