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SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Cleared for Return to Space, FAA says

  • Flights of Musk’s workhorse halted after failure on July 11
  • Grounding cut off access to world’s most-launched rocket

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Photographer: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
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SpaceX’s Falcon 9 won approval from US air safety regulators to return to space following a mid-flight failure on July 11 that grounded the world’s most-frequently-launched rocket.

“After a comprehensive review, the FAA determined no public safety issues were involved in the anomaly that occurred during the SpaceX launch on July 11,” the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement Thursday. “This public safety determination means the Falcon 9 vehicle may return to flight operations while the overall investigation remains open, provided all other license requirements are met.”