SpaceX planning next Falcon launch in days
Posted: Sun, Sep 21, 2008, 9:57 AM ET (1357 GMT)
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) may conduct its next Falcon 1 launch as early as September 23, pending final tests, the company announced late Friday. According to a company statement, the vehicle, carrying a dummy payload, is on the pad at the company's facility on Omelek Island, part of Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific, with a launch window extending from Tuesday through Thursday. That launch date is pending last-minute tests, including a static engine firing that was scheduled for Saturday. The first three Falcon 1 launches all failed to place payloads into orbit; the most recent one, in early August, failed because of residual thrust from the first stage engine caused that stage to collide with the second stage after stage separation. That problem has been corrected by extending the delay between engine cutoff and stage separation, and SpaceX said that no other issues were found with that launch.
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) may conduct its next Falcon 1 launch as early as September 23, pending final tests, the company announced late Friday. According to a company statement, the vehicle, carrying a dummy payload, is on the pad at the company's facility on Omelek Island, part of Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific, with a launch window extending from Tuesday through Thursday. That launch date is pending last-minute tests, including a static engine firing that was scheduled for Saturday. The first three Falcon 1 launches all failed to place payloads into orbit; the most recent one, in early August, failed because of residual thrust from the first stage engine caused that stage to collide with the second stage after stage separation. That problem has been corrected by extending the delay between engine cutoff and stage separation, and SpaceX said that no other issues were found with that launch.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
FAA restricts hours for commercial launches during shutdown
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 9:05 AM ET (1405 GMT) China postpones Shenzhou-20 return on orbital debris concerns
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 8:58 AM ET (1358 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, November 23
Blue Origin’s New Glenn has suddenly become a competitor
The Hill — 11:22 pm ET (0422 GMT) SpaceX Rocket Launches to Deliver 28 Starlink Satellites
Noozhawk — 11:19 pm ET (0419 GMT) How Russia’s New Space Station Could Dominate the Earth
The National Interest — 11:18 pm ET (0418 GMT) Ireland needs a space agency to share in industry which could be worth €3 trillion by 2040
The Journal (Ireland) — 11:14 pm ET (0414 GMT) Irish research takes flight as Norah Patten prepares for landmark suborbital mission
Irish Examiner — 11:14 pm ET (0414 GMT) |
