US company SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket experienced failure, leaving it unable to deploy internet satellites into its intended orbit.
The unmanned rocket carrying the satellites lifted off from the US state of California on Thursday.
The company says the rocket’s first stage performed normally, but a liquid oxygen leak developed in the second stage. As a result, it says the satellites were deployed into a lower than intended orbit.
SpaceX expects the satellites will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and burn up. The company says they do not pose a threat to other satellites in orbit or to public safety.
US media say this is the first failure of a Falcon 9 rocket since 2016, when one exploded during an engine firing test, destroying a satellite loaded on it.
SpaceX is looking into what caused the failure.
The US Federal Aviation Administration says it must complete its investigation and give approval before another Falcon 9 rocket launch.
Falcon 9 is SpaceX’s mainstay rocket and has had a streak of more than 300 successful launches.