Starlink Group 9-3

Launch Notes

The Falcon 9 second-stage engine failed to complete its second ignition due to a liquid oxygen leak, causing the planned orbit to be missed and the deployment of the Starlink satellites in an unusable low orbit with all satellites re-entering within hours of launch. Leakage occurred in a sense line for a pressure sensor attached to the vehicle’s oxygen system that cracked due to fatigue, caused by high loading from engine vibration and looseness in the clamp that normally constrains the line.