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Starlink 8-6 (Falcon 9) 28 August 2024 |
Space Launch Complex 40 Cape Canaveral Space Force Station |
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 21 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 3:48 a.m. on 28 August 2024. This was the 23rd flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched GPS III Space Vehicle 04, GPS III Space Vehicle 05, Inspiration4, Ax-1, Nilesat 301, OneWeb Launch 17, ARABSAT BADR-8, and now 16 Starlink missions. Following stage separation, Falcon 9's first stage attempted to land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean but a landing mishap caused the booster to topple over and explode. |
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LONG DISTANCE VIEWS OF THE LAUNCH |
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BOOSTER WRECKAGE |
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| The A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship arrived back in Port Canaveral on 30 August 2024 with the remains of the Starlink 8-6 booster that had toppled over and exploded while attempting to land. Only the engine compartment and fragments of the landing legs remained of the booster. | |
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| Besides the crumbled engine bell at bottom, note the center engine has been wrenched out of place and is hanging down from a gaping hole. | |
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