SpaceX or Space Exploration Technologies on Monday revealed that it will postpone the launch attempts of its next Falcon 9 rocket until early July, owing to some technical issues.SpaceX, for long has been making efforts to launch its much awaited Falcon 9 rocket, which is aimed at delivering six small communications satellites into orbit for Orbcomm.
Elon Musk run companymentioned on its website, “SpaceX is taking a closer look at a potential issue identified while conducting pre-flight checkouts during (Sunday’s) countdown,” and added “SpaceX will stand down Tuesday while our engineering teams evaluate further.”
Falcon 9 launch soiled by technical glitches
SpaceX mentioned that the engineers are currently working with the Range to confirm the next available launch opportunities. Falcon 9 launch was postponed on Friday after a technical issue in the rocket’s upper stage engine caught the attention. There was no further detail provided by SpaceX and the issue was resolved to make the engine ready for the launch on Saturday. However, Saturday’s launch was also cancelled due to poor weather. Then on Sunday again another issue marred the launch, which was then scheduled for Tuesday.
Falcon 9 will distribute six satellites into orbits about 500 miles above the Earth Orbcomm, which will offer machine to machine data and messaging service globally. This is the 10th mission for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 that also carries cargo capsules to the International Space Station for NASA.
SpaceX has big plans
The launch will loft the first six members of the OG2 satellite constellation. Over the course of Orbcomm Generation 2 launch, SpaceX will make efforts to bring the Falcon 9 first stage down on Earth in a soft ocean splashdown. In April, a similar task was performed, when SpaceX’s robotic Dragon cargo craft was sent to the International Space Station for NASA. However, due to rough sea the rocket stage was destroyed even before the recovery boats could rescue it.
SpaceX is working towards developing a fully and rapidly reusable launch system. Reusable rockets will cut down the cost of spaceflight by a factor of 100 making it possible for the manned exploration, according to founder Elon Musk. Tesla CEO, previously, stated that he envisions making humanity a multiplanet species.
Last month, Elon Musk launched the SpaceX Dragon V2 to grab a contract to transport American astronauts back and forth to the International Space Station. The SpaceX Dragon V2 diverges from the expendable Soyuz rockets that are being currently used by the America as the former one is reusable.
