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The US government made a big choice on Friday. They said SpaceX can use its Falcon 9 rocket again. This happened after the rocket was grounded for four days. A problem occurred during a past mission. The issue was with the rocket's upper part. Now the fix is done. SpaceX and NASA are ready for a new job. This launch is for the Crew-12 mission. It is scheduled to launch from Florida at 5:15 a.m. EDT on Friday, April 17, 2026.
The trouble started on Monday, March 2, 2026. A Falcon 9 rocket flew from California. It carried 25 small internet satellites called Starlink. The rocket dropped the satellites into space safely. But a problem happened with the upper stage. This part was supposed to use a special engine. The engine was needed to send the rocket back to Earth. This action is called a deorbit burn. It keeps old rockets from floating in space too long.
The engine did not start. So the rocket could not slow down. It fell to Earth without control. Experts say the metal burned up in the air. This was the fourth time this part failed in 19 months. Engineers must work very hard to keep space safe.
The government watched the investigation closely. SpaceX engineers did the detailed work. They looked at all the data to find the cause. They found the engine failed to start just in time. SpaceX made new fixes for the parts and software. The government checked these changes. They decided the rocket is safe now. An official said, "The Falcon 9 vehicle is authorized to return to flight." This means SpaceX can fly again.
The Crew-12 mission can now move forward. Four astronauts will go to the International Space Station. They will stay there for nine months. They will do science work while in space. The group has two Americans, one Russian, and one European. They will fly in a capsule named "Freedom." The rocket will lift them up. Then the capsule will fly to the station on its own. This automatic process is very modern and safe.
A full crew is very important. The station needs seven people to work well. Only three people have been there since January. The Crew-11 crew left early because one needed medical help. This was a first for space travel. Having seven people helps fix problems quickly. It lets scientists study how space affects the body. This work helps us plan trips to the Moon and Mars. The return of the rocket helps keep this work going.