SpaceX delays first launch
Posted: Thu, Sep 15, 2005, 8:15 AM ET (1215 GMT)
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has pushed back the first launch of its Falcon 1 launch vehicle to late October after a rocket engine failed during a ground test. The Merlin engine, used on the first stage of the Falcon 1, failed during a firing at a SpaceX test site in Texas as part of a qualification program. Company officials said they believe the failure is due to a manufacturing defect in that particular engine, and is not a design flaw with the engine design, but want to spend additional time to perform quality assurance tests and make minor changes to the engine. This will delay the launch of the first Falcon 1 from Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific from the end of September to late October. The Falcon 1 will carry a small Air Force experimental satellite, Falconsat 2. The Falcon 1 is the smallest of three vehicles under development by SpaceX that promise to offer less expensive space access. Last week the company unveiled the Falcon 9, a large launcher that will compete head-to-head with EELV-class boosters.
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has pushed back the first launch of its Falcon 1 launch vehicle to late October after a rocket engine failed during a ground test. The Merlin engine, used on the first stage of the Falcon 1, failed during a firing at a SpaceX test site in Texas as part of a qualification program. Company officials said they believe the failure is due to a manufacturing defect in that particular engine, and is not a design flaw with the engine design, but want to spend additional time to perform quality assurance tests and make minor changes to the engine. This will delay the launch of the first Falcon 1 from Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific from the end of September to late October. The Falcon 1 will carry a small Air Force experimental satellite, Falconsat 2. The Falcon 1 is the smallest of three vehicles under development by SpaceX that promise to offer less expensive space access. Last week the company unveiled the Falcon 9, a large launcher that will compete head-to-head with EELV-class boosters.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, March 12
Rocket Lab Schedules Two Launches Three Days Apart, Upcoming Mission to Deploy Final Satellites in Kinéis Constellation
Rocket Lab — 5:12 am ET (0912 GMT) Rocket Lab Announces “At The Market” (ATM) Equity Offering Program
Rocket Lab — 5:12 am ET (0912 GMT) Rocket Lab Announces Intention to Acquire Mynaric, Leading Laser Communications Provider, in Latest Strategic Step Toward Becoming an End-to-End Space Company
Rocket Lab — 5:11 am ET (0911 GMT) DOD Probes Commercial GEO-based Situational Awareness Options
Aviation Week — 5:10 am ET (0910 GMT) Chinese Citizen Pleads Guilty to Flying Drone Over Vandenberg Space Force Base
Santa Barbara (CA) Edhat — 5:10 am ET (0910 GMT) |
