Editing SpaceX Merlin (section)

==== Anomalies ====
The March 18, 2020, launch of [[Starlink]] satellites on board a [[Falcon&nbsp;9]] experienced an early engine shutdown on ascent. The shutdown occurred 2&nbsp;minutes 22&nbsp;seconds into the flight and was accompanied with an "event" seen on camera. The rest of the Falcon&nbsp;9 engines burned longer and did deliver the payload to orbit. However, the first stage was not successfully recovered. In a subsequent investigation SpaceX found that [[isopropyl alcohol]], used as cleaning fluid, was trapped and ignited, causing the engine to be shut down. To address the issue, in a following launch SpaceX indicated that the cleaning process was not done.<ref name="BJbif">{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |title=Falcon 9 rocket overcomes engine failure to deploy Starlink satellites |website=Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/03/18/falcon-9-rocket-overcomes-engine-failure-to-deploy-starlink-satellites/ |access-date=November 1, 2020 |language=en-US |archive-date=October 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026101330/https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/03/18/falcon-9-rocket-overcomes-engine-failure-to-deploy-starlink-satellites/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Vnfs2">{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |title=SpaceX's Starlink network surpasses 400-satellite mark after successful launch |website=Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/04/22/spacexs-starlink-network-surpasses-400-satellite-mark-after-successful-launch/ |access-date=November 1, 2020 |language=en-US |archive-date=April 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200430031030/https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/04/22/spacexs-starlink-network-surpasses-400-satellite-mark-after-successful-launch/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="GjzNf">{{Cite web |date=April 23, 2020 |title=Safety panel concludes May launch of commercial crew test flight is feasible |url=https://spacenews.com/safety-panel-concludes-may-launch-of-commercial-crew-test-flight-is-feasible/ |access-date=November 1, 2020 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}</ref>

On October 2, 2020, the launch of a GPS-III satellite was aborted at T-2 seconds due to a detected early startup on 2 of the 9 engines on the first stage. The engines were removed for further testing and it was found that a port in the gas generator was blocked. After removing the blockage the engines started as intended. After this, SpaceX inspected other engines across its fleet and found that two of the engines on the Falcon 9 rocket intended for the Crew-1 launch also had this problem. Those engines were replaced with new M1D engines.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Berger|first=Eric|date=October 28, 2020|title=How a tiny bit of lacquer grounded new Falcon 9 rockets for a month|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/10/nasa-and-spacex-set-new-date-for-crew-launch-explain-merlin-engine-issue/|access-date=October 24, 2021|website=Ars Technica|language=en-us}}</ref>

On February 16, 2021, on Falcon 9 flight 108 launching [[Starlink]] satellites, an engine shut down early due to hot exhaust gasses passing through a damaged heat-shielding cover. The mission was a success, but the booster could not be recovered.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cao |first=Sissi |date=February 16, 2021 |title=SpaceX Fails Falcon 9 Rocket Landing in Rare Miss During Latest Starlink Mission |url=https://observer.com/2021/02/spacex-fail-landing-starlink-mission-falcon9/ |access-date=February 26, 2021 |website=Observer }}</ref>