SpaceX’s rescheduled rocket launch will be held this afternoon
SpaceX engineers are now targeting liftoff of the Cape’s first Falcon 9 launch of 2016 for 6:46 p.m. EST from SpaceX’s seaside Space Launch Complex 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.at the opening of a 97-minute launch window. Now SES announced the new launch schedule for the SpaceX SES 9 mission.
On Thursday, SpaceX cancelled a Falcon 9 launch because of a technical difficulty for the second time in a row this week after on Wednesday, the launch was postponed amid bad weather conditions.
SpaceX has not yet confirmed its plans, saying only that it is reviewing data and the next available launch date.
The rocket was scheduled to launch Wednesday and Thursday night, but was scrubbed over concerns of the rocket’s liquid oxygen temperatures on both occasions. According to SpaceX, the cryogenic nature of the fuel enables the liquid oxygen to be denser, which, in turn allows engineers to load much more fuel into the rocket.
So, what’s so important about the SpaceX launch scheduled for later today? Monday has been kept as a reserve day in case, something goes south again.
The rocket is to carry a satellite for Luxembourg-based SES into orbit that will help telecommunications and broadcasts in Asia. SpaceX says now that the fuel loading issue has been solved, and the weather forecast is clear for this evening, so as of this point, all signs point to a successful launch (knock on wood).
The upgraded rocket generates more thrust, enabling it to lift heavier payloads and creating more opportunities for SpaceX to try to land the first-stage boosters. The private spacecraft company realizes that the ability to launch and reuse rockets – something that a safe landing will provide – is crucial to the economic success and viability of its company.
“The Falcon 9 remains healthy in advance of SpaceX and SES’s mission to deliver the SES-9 satellite to Geostationary Transfer Orbit”. Since then, several attempts at recovery have failed but the company will not give up.
The company made history in December when it landed the first stage safely back at Cape Canaveral.