The engine's 'rapid unscheduled disassembly,' as Elon Musk put it, almost certainly will trigger downstream launch delays.
Space X launched another batch of Starlink internet satellites from California Thursday, but the engine powering the rocket's second stage suffered a catastrophic failure, if not an explosion, during an attempt to carry out a final 'burn' to raise the low point of the orbit, company founder Elon Musk posted early Friday on X.Musk referred to the anomaly as a 'RUD,' a tongue-in-cheek acronym that stands for 'rapid unscheduled disassembly.
The first firing ended on time around eight-and-a-half minutes after liftoff.Live video from on-board cameras showed dramatic views of that initial second stage 'burn,' with the engine's nozzle glowing bright red against the dark backdrop of space. The cameras also showed unusual ice buildups on the side of the rocket, along with a steady stream of frigid clumps breaking away and vaporizing in the engine's fiery but transparent exhaust.
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