SpaceX Crash Threatens Rescue Mission for Stranded Astronauts

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket crashed during a landing attempt on Wednesday, forcing the aerospace company to postpone a launch scheduled for later that day. The Federal Aviation Administration has subsequently grounded all Falcon 9 rockets pending an investigation into the accident. This setback casts doubt on SpaceX’s plans for its first private space mission, Polaris Dawn, and could further delay the rescue mission for two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS). Originally slated for April, the Polaris Dawn mission was postponed to August 26th due to a helium leak and weather issues. Now, the launch date is uncertain. The crash raises concerns for the February mission to rescue the astronauts stranded on the ISS after Boeing’s Starliner rocket failed to launch. While SpaceX has yet to confirm a specific date for the rescue mission, delays caused by the Falcon 9 crash could leave the astronauts stranded for an extended period.