The latest mission from SpaceX had the Falcon 9 returning to the planet, but the company’s re-entry this time around prompted warnings about falling rocket debris which caused massive delays to multiple flights run by airlines. In this specific mission, SpaceX chose the Southern Indian Ocean as its targeted region where it will be caught by the company’s drone ships.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 re-entry woes have already led to multiple delayed flights over the past month, with the United States government’s advisory regarded to be shared at the last minute to said companies.
SpaceX Falcon 9 Re-Entry Fiasco: Multiple Delayed Flights
The Guardian reported (via TechCrunch) that there is an ongoing fiasco caused by SpaceX and its Falcon 9 rocket against various airlines flying in and out of South Africa because of possible debris. It was revealed by Australian airline company, Qantas, that they have received advisories from the United States government which warned them about the said debris that may affect their flights.
With this, Qantas took it upon itself to delay and reschedule several flights on its manifest, but the company had to push back on various trips from Sydney to Johannesburg multiple times already.
Qantas spokesperson, Ben Holland, regarded the hassle that the airlines faced because of SpaceX’s area of choice, and the company faced this problem on various periods now, dating back to December 30.
The Australian airlines also revealed that the notices shared by the United States government only had little leeway on when the mission would take place, surprising the company on the SpaceX mission.
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Falcon 9 Re-Entry Brings Possible Falling Rocket Debris
It was revealed that Falcon 9’s recent re-entry area of choice shifted to the Indian Ocean where a dedicated drone ship is already awaiting the descending rocket. While there are no reports yet on detaching components or several complications to Falcon 9 flights, affected airlines received these late notices that caused them to delay flights for up to six hours, even for those who are already departing.
Moreover, further reports claimed that South African Airways is also affected by SpaceX’s re-entry missions for Falcon 9.
Qantas also revealed that they were not immediately given the exact coordinates of the Falcon 9’s return from its recent mission.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Is Still the Top Workhorse
SpaceX is regarded to be one of the most popular and reliable private space companies in the industry, with the company receiving multiple contracts to carry out missions to orbit, including both humans and payloads. The Falcon 9 remains its steadfast workhorse that has frequented the skies over the past years, and this was because the company has yet to complete the testing of its Starship program.
The Falcon 9 already proved itself in the industry multiple times, with their own Starlink satellites being delivered by their workhorse rocket to orbit on various occasions, and has been key to creating their constellations. One specific Falcon 9 rocket, the B1067, set a new reusability record last December when it flew a total of 24 flights since it was first used by the company in 2021.
There was also SpaceX’s simultaneous flights for the Falcon 9 rocket in the past, demonstrating its capabilities and successes in the industry which remains unparalleled by other first-stage machines and companies. That being said, its frequent flights have already led to inconveniencing humans, particularly with its recent debris fiasco over the Indian Ocean, causing delays for Qantas and South African Airways flights.
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