spacetoday.net: SpaceX pushes back Falcon 1 launch

Posted: Wed, Sep 24, 2008, 7:31 AM ET (1131 GMT)
Falcon 1 3rd launch (SpaceX)

SpaceX announced Tuesday that it is postponing its next Falcon 1 launch a few days to replace a vehicle component. SpaceX conducted a static test firing of its Falcon 1 vehicle on Saturday and said that the test went well. However, the company said in a statement that engineers will replace a component in a liquid oxygen supply line in the vehicle's second stage, saying that the component is likely fine as is but that the company was being "extremely cautious". That work will push back the launch to a window running from September 28 through October 1. The launch, carrying only a dummy payload, will be the fourth for the Falcon 1; the first three failed to place payloads into orbit, including the most recent launch in early August.