Technology & Science
FAA Lifts 4-Day Grounding of Falcon 9 After Deorbit Burn Failure
On 6 Feb 2026 the FAA accepted SpaceX’s mishap report on a Feb 2 upper-stage ignition failure, clearing Falcon 9 to fly again just four days after the anomaly.
Focusing Facts
- The Feb 2 malfunction was the 4th upper-stage issue in 19 months, yet the investigation closed in 4 days versus ~14 days for the 2024 and 2025 probes.
- Falcon 9 returned to flight on 7 Feb 2026 at 17:21 UTC from Vandenberg, orbiting 25 Starlink satellites (batch 17-33).
- NASA’s Crew-12 launch with four astronauts remains scheduled for 11 Feb 2026 at 11:01 GMT after NASA deemed no added ascent risk.
Context
Rapid regulatory turnaround after a launch anomaly is rare but not unprecedented; in 1986, the Shuttle fleet was grounded for 32 months after Challenger, whereas post-1999 Proton failures Roscosmos restored flights in 45 days. The four-day pause underscores a trend toward data-driven, privately led investigations and a regulator (FAA) willing to delegate root-cause analysis when reliability statistics are high (≈600 Falcon 9 flights, <1 % major anomalies). This moment illustrates the maturing of reusable commercial launchers: quick fault isolation, organizational learning loops, and pressure to sustain a weekly cadence that underpins megaconstellations and crew rotation. Over a century horizon, the critical question is whether such tolerance for iterative failures scales to human deep-space transport or invites complacency akin to the pre-Columbia “normalization of deviance.” The balance struck now between speed and systemic safety will shape norms for spacefaring economies well into the 2100s.
Perspectives
Specialist space science news outlets
Space.com, Yahoo syndication — They highlight that four Falcon 9 upper-stage mishaps in 19 months show a concerning trend that could delay NASA’s Crew-12 launch if the grounding lasts longer than the typical two-week probe. By stressing the string of anomalies and uncertain timelines, the coverage courts safety-minded clicks while giving limited weight to the rocket’s overall 240-plus successful missions in the same period.
Pro-Musk tech enthusiast media
TESLARATI — The op-ed casts the 2018 Roadster flight as proof that SpaceX’s risk-taking culture fuels world-changing success, suggesting present glitches are mere bumps on a historic upward trajectory. Routinely championing Musk-led companies, the outlet focuses on soaring valuations and visionary rhetoric, glossing over fresh safety concerns to keep its enthusiastic readership inspired.
Local California news covering Vandenberg launches
Noozhawk — Reports concentrate on the FAA’s quick clearance and the imminent weekend Starlink launch, framing the upper-stage glitch as a routine hiccup with no public impact. Reliant on the base’s activity for regional interest and economic positives, the outlet has an incentive to minimize systemic risks and keep the launch narrative upbeat.