### SpaceX Falcon 9 Cleared for Hera Mission Launch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given SpaceX the green light to proceed with its Falcon 9 rocket launch on Monday, aiming to send the European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft into orbit from Florida's Cape Canaveral. The mission, which is scheduled for 10:52 a.m. ET (1452 GMT), marks the Falcon 9's return to flight status following recent scrutiny.

The FAA's authorization comes after SpaceX experienced a malfunction with the second stage of its Falcon 9 during a NASA astronaut mission in September. This mishap resulted in the booster falling into an unintended area of the Pacific Ocean. As a result, the FAA had grounded the launch vehicle and mandated an investigation. The agency has since determined that the planned Hera mission mitigates the primary risks associated with that malfunction, allowing the rocket to return to flight for this specific mission.

The Hera spacecraft is poised to analyze the aftermath of NASA's DART mission, which successfully impacted the asteroid Dimorphos in 2022 as a test of a planetary defense mechanism. Hera's study aims to collect data for future endeavors in asteroid deflection, potentially safeguarding Earth from collision threats. Notably, Falcon 9 had also launched the DART mission in 2021.

The FAA has had contentious interactions with SpaceX recently, exemplified by a proposed $633,000 fine imposed on September 17 due to the company's violations ahead of two Falcon 9 launches in 2023. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker emphasized the need for SpaceX to maintain the highest safety standards, while SpaceX has defended its safety record as the most reliable in the world. Tensions escalated when the FAA delayed a planned Starship 5 launch in September because SpaceX had not completed a required sonic boom analysis. The FAA does not expect to reach a license determination for that launch before late November.

In February 2023, the FAA had already proposed a penalty of $175,000 against SpaceX for not submitting required safety data before an August 2022 Starlink satellite launch, a penalty that the company paid. Elon Musk has publicly criticized the FAA’s decisions and has called for Administrator Whitaker's resignation over the recent issues.