SpaceX Falcon 9 second-stage rocket component disintegrates, falls to Earth: Report
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SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was used to launch Echostar 23 mission in 2017
Reports say that part of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket broke down and fell towards Earth over Mexico as it burnt through the atmosphere. The rocket had sent a satellite to space in the year 2017. The spacecraft had helped in the launch of Echostar 23 mission that aimed to provide internet, broadband and other connectivity solutions to Brazil.
A Twitter handle @FronteraSpacial posted a video on February 6. The handle says that the video shows visuals of Falcon 9 rocket burning up through Earth's atmosphere.
🔥 FALCON 9 DE SPACEX CAE SOBRE MÉXICO 🇲🇽
— Frontera Espacial (@FronteraSpacial) February 6, 2022
Esta noche se ha visto un "#Meteorito" cayendo sobre el norte de México.
🚀 En realidad era la segunda etapa de un Falcon 9 de SpaceX lanzado en marzo del 2017 con la misión EchoStar23.
Se ha desintegrado en la atmósfera completamente. pic.twitter.com/5ERaFTMBJ2
It was initially thought that this was a meteoroid. But FronteraSpacial says that this visual represents part of Falcon 9 rocket falling towards Earth.
"SPACEX FALCON 9 FALLS OVER MEXICO. Tonight a "#Meteorite" has been seen falling over northern Mexico. It was actually the second stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 launched in March 2017 with the EchoStar23 mission. It has completely disintegrated in the atmosphere," says the handle (translated).
When a satellites falls towards Earth (re-entry), it is rarely a dangerous situation for citizens as friction with atmosphere breaks up the parts and subsequently burns it. There are, however, several examples of sizeable portion of a re-entering satellite having been found on the surface of Earth.
Elon Musk or SpaceX haven't commented on second stage Falcon-9 rocket falling, as it is fairly common for second state rocket component to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and getting destroyed.