The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that it will require an investigation into the in-flight failure of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket during a routine launch of Starlink internet satellites. The incident occurred on Thursday evening at Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California.

According to reports from Reuters, approximately an hour after takeoff, the rocket's second stage experienced an engine failure and failed to reignite. As a result, the 20 Starlink internet satellites were deployed into a lower than intended orbit, posing a risk of burning up in the Earth's atmosphere.

SpaceX quickly responded to the situation, stating that they have made contact with five of the satellites and are attempting to raise their orbit using ion thrusters. The company explained that they will update the satellite software to maximize the effectiveness of the ion thrusters in order to prevent a catastrophic outcome.

Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, provided a technical explanation about ion thrusters, referring to the company's effort to push the thrusters to their maximum capability. However, recognizing the uncertainty of success, he humorously compared it to a "Star Trek" episode, stating that it might not work but is worth trying.

In another post, Musk mentioned an "engine RUD," or a rapid unscheduled disassembly, as a possible cause for the failure and noted that the team is currently reviewing data to identify the root cause.

This incident marks the first failure of a Falcon 9 rocket since 2015 when an explosion occurred during a launch in Florida. With this incident now under investigation, the FAA released a statement confirming its awareness of the anomaly and its involvement in the investigation process. The FAA will oversee the investigation and review SpaceX's final report, including any necessary corrective actions.

No injuries or public property damage have been reported, but the FAA is determined to ensure the safety and reliability of future launch missions. As the investigation progresses, further updates will be provided regarding the cause of the failure and any actions to prevent similar incidents in the future.