SpaceX Rocket Fails in Orbit

The second stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket sustained a rare but catastrophic failure Thursday night, unable to successfully deploy the company’s latest batch of Starlink internet satellites.

In a posting on X two hours after launch, Elon Musk, the chief executive of SpaceX, reported that the rocket had suffered a “R.U.D.” — rapid unscheduled disassembly — while in orbit. “Team is reviewing data tonight to understand root cause,” he wrote.

But on Friday, SpaceX provided an update on its website that the second stage had experienced a liquid oxygen leak and was unable to complete a second, short engine burn needed to put 20 Starlink satellites in the correct orbit.

Seeming to contradict Mr. Musk’s posting after the launch, the company said on Friday that the second stage “survived,” deployed the satellites and was able to perform its usual shutdown tasks.

But the SpaceX update did not provide much detail on the fate of the second stage or the extent of damage it might have sustained.

The company did predict that the satellites could not remain in the low orbit, and would fall back down to Earth, although it did not offer any timetable. “They do not pose a threat to other satellites in orbit or to public safety,” SpaceX said.