SpaceX's Falcon 9 cleared for Hera mission launch after FAA review

SpaceX is set to launch the European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft on Monday from Florida's Cape Canaveral, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The planned liftoff at 10:52 a.m. ET (1452 GMT) will mark the return to flight for SpaceX's workhorse Falcon 9 rocket after being grounded following a second-stage malfunction.

The FAA authorized the launch on Sunday: "The SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle is authorized to return to flight only for the planned Hera mission scheduled to launch on October 7 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida." The agency said that the mission's potential public safety risks are mitigated due to the absence of a second stage reentry, which was a factor in a previous incident.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 had been grounded after a malfunction during the Crew-9 mission caused the rocket's second stage to fall into the Pacific Ocean outside of its approved safety zone. This incident, which occurred in September, was the third such grounding within three months, prompting the FAA to require SpaceX to conduct a thorough investigation into the issue.

Hera is set to study the effects of NASA's 2022 DART mission, which altered the course of the asteroid Dimorphos. The data collected from Hera aims to enhance future planetary defense strategies for redirecting asteroids that could pose a threat to Earth. The DART spacecraft was initially launched aboard a Falcon 9 in 2021.

Meanwhile, SpaceX has faced regulatory scrutiny, including a proposed fine of $633,000 by the FAA on September 17 for safety violations related to two Falcon 9 launches in 2023. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker commented that SpaceX should "operate at the highest level of safety," especially after being in business for 20 years. SpaceX defended its safety practices, asserting that it is "the safest, most reliable launch provider in the world."

The FAA's decisions have also led to the delay of SpaceX's Starship 5 launch, initially planned for September, due to the company's failure to timely complete a required sonic boom analysis. A decision on the license for this launch is not expected until late November.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has publicly criticized the FAA's regulatory actions and called for Whitaker's resignation. Earlier this year, the FAA had also fined SpaceX $175,000 for failing to submit specific safety data before a Starlink satellite launch in August 2022, which the company paid.

(With input from Reuters)