Starlink satellites from latest SpaceX launch to burn up in Earth's atmosphere

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- A SpaceX rocket launched from Southern California successfully Thursday evening, but an issue during the second stage means the Starlink satellites will burn up in the Earth's atmosphere, the company announced.

SpaceX launched 20 Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket Thursday evening from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

The astronautics company provided an update after the launch that even though the first stage performed as designed, a liquid oxygen leak during the second stage caused the Starlink satellites to be deployed into a lower orbit than intended.

According to SpaceX, the Merlin Vacuum engine experienced an anomaly and was unable to complete its second burn. This left the satellites in an eccentric orbit with a very low perig...