The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has halted all Falcon 9 rocket operations following a recent incident involving a stage-one booster from a SpaceX satellite launch. Early Wednesday, after a successful mission, the rocket booster tipped over and exploded upon its return to Earth. The FAA has now instructed SpaceX to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, prompting the grounding of all Falcon 9 rockets, including the highly anticipated civilian SpaceX mission, Polaris.

Polaris, a groundbreaking mission that had already faced delays due to adverse weather conditions and equipment issues, was set to feature a spacewalk by a four-member, all-private crew. The primary objective of the mission was to test SpaceX's new spacesuit design. However, with the ongoing investigation and the FAA's involvement, the launch of the Polaris mission appears to be uncertain, causing potential delays.

The investigation into the mishap and subsequent FAA approval process is yet to determine the timeframe for the resumption of SpaceX missions. Historically, previous investigations, such as the one conducted after a Falcon 9 engine failure in July, were concluded relatively swiftly, and SpaceX resumed its missions within two weeks. However, the exact duration of the current investigation remains unclear, leaving future launch schedules uncertain.

NASA, the primary partner of SpaceX for various missions, including crewed flights, has not provided an immediate comment regarding the incident. SpaceX, in an official statement released on Wednesday, mentioned that the failed booster was intended to land on a drone landing platform in the Atlantic Ocean. However, during the landing attempt, the booster tipped over and was lost, marking the end of its successful service record.

Jared Isaacman, leading the Polaris mission, expressed confidence on social media that the investigation would not result in significant delays. Isaacman emphasized that the primary concern at this stage was recovery weather. However, should the investigation prolong, it could potentially impact another impending SpaceX mission, which aims to bring back a pair of astronauts stranded at the International Space Station since early June. This mission is scheduled to commence on September 24th with a crewed SpaceX Dragon capsule propelled by a Falcon 9 launch vehicle.

SpaceX has been known for its consistent success in landing and reusing rocket boosters. Prior to the recent mishap, the particular booster involved in Wednesday's incident had completed a notable 23 successful missions. This hiccup marks the end of an impressive track record for SpaceX.

The Falcon 9 rocket, with its capability of reusing boosters to launch satellites into space and successfully returning them back to Earth, has substantially increased the efficiency and frequency of SpaceX missions. With nearly 100 launches conducted last year, a significant increase compared to the industry's previous average of about a dozen launches a year, SpaceX set a new record. This year, the company aims to further accelerate its launch frequency, targeting nearly 150 Falcon 9 launches.

In a statement accompanying a video showcasing the recent mishap, SpaceX acknowledged the challenges inherent in spaceflight and emphasized the pioneering nature of their missions. The company views setbacks like this as valuable learning experiences that drive further innovation.

Recently, NASA also announced its decision to rely on SpaceX to bring home two stranded astronauts from the ISS, canceling their return aboard the Boeing Starliner capsule due to safety concerns. Astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore are now scheduled to return on the SpaceX Dragon capsule, once the investigation and subsequent clearance processes are concluded.