The US Federal Aviation Administration has banned further launches of rockets from the private space company SpaceX, and ordered an investigation into a failed launch.

A Falcon 9 rocket experienced problems with the ignition of a second propulsion stage on Thursday.

As a result of the investigation, further missions may be delayed, including flights for the US space agency NASA and with private space tourists.

“A return to flight is based on the FAA determining that any system, process, or procedure related to the mishap does not affect public safety,” the agency said.

After hundreds of successful launches in recent years, the rocket developed problems shortly after launch on Thursday evening and broke apart.

The attempt to ignite the second propulsion stage of the Falcon 9 rocket failed, SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk posted on the social media platform X.

During tonight’s Falcon 9 launch of Starlink, the second stage engine did not complete its second burn. As a result, the Starlink satellites were deployed into a lower than intended orbit.
SpaceX has made contact with 5 of the satellites so far and is attempting to have them…
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) July 12, 2024
The rocket was supposed to launch 20 Starlink internet satellites into orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

However, the satellites did not reach the required altitude.

Contact has now been lost with all the satellites, SpaceX announced on its website.

They will therefore enter the Earth’s atmosphere and disintegrate. There is no danger to other satellites or the public, it added.

According to US media, after a series of around 300 successful launches of Falcon 9 rockets, this is the first time since 2015 that such a rocket has fallen apart.

According to SpaceX, around 140 Falcon 9 rockets had already been launched in 2024 alone, the New York Times reported.

—AAP