On July 12, 2024 at 2:35 AM UTC a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from SLC-4E at the Vandenberg SFB in Florida, USA carrying the Starlink group 9-3 payload to Low Earth Orbit. This launch would have carried 7 Starlink V2-mini and 13 Starlink Direct-to-Cell satellites to orbit for SpaceX's high-speed LEO internet satellite constellation. However, during the second burn of the second stage's MVac engine (no video provided, so not shown in this video), the engine experienced an anomaly and apparently a rapid unscheduled disassembly (RUD). The Starlink satellites were still deployed in their low orbit, but their weak ion thrusters were unable to recover the satellites and they reentered Earth's atmosphere. This was the first Falcon 9 in almost 8 years, not including first stage landing failures. The first stage booster, B1063, successfully landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship after launch. This was the 19th flight of this booster, having previously supported Sentinel-6A Michael Freilich, DART, Transporter 7, Iridium-9 & OneWeb #19, SDA Tranche 0 Flight 2, and 12 Starlink missions.
Video thanks to: SpaceX

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