SpaceX Ready To Try Again

[Paul]

They're checking... double checking... and TRIPLE checking on Omalek, as SpaceX readies its Falcon 1 launch vehicle for its first flight once again. A full-scale test of vehicle systems, including initiating the flight countdown auto sequence and even briefly firing the main engine on the launch stand, is scheduled to take place Thursday, February 9.

If no flight critical anomalies are detected, SpaceX says the actual launch will take place on Friday, February 10. The launch window on Friday is 12pm - 7 pm, Pacific Standard Time.

When we last left SpaceX, the company was forced to scrub its December 19 launch attempt due to the failure of an electronic component in one of the first stage fuel tank pressurization valves. Even the booster's triple-redundant pressure sensors were unable to stop the failure from scrubbing the mission, as when this component shorted, it caused the valve controller board to reboot -- effectively eliminating the redundancy.

Aero-News Network

 

[Paul]

Once again, the scheduled launch of the SpaceX Falcon 1 vehicle was scrubbed Friday, after an as-yet unidentified problem cropped up during a pre-launch countdown test on Kwajalein Atoll that included a brief firing of the rocket's engine.

"We were very happy to be able to execute a flight countdown all the way to lighting the engine," said SpaceX founder Elon Musk on the company's website. "Although there wasn't a launch this time, we made a lot of progress refining the rocket and launch pad -- all work that needed to be done anyway."

SpaceX representatives told Aero-News the rocket was lowered from its launchpad Friday night for further investigation into the anomaly.

Friday's delay marked the third time SpaceX has had to scrub the planned first launch of its rocket, which the company hopes will one day provide satellite customers with a privately-funded alternative to NASA.

Aero-News Network