SpaceX Falcon 9 SpX-5 launch slips to NET Jan. 10
Photo Credit: Michael Seeley / SpaceFlight Insider
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla — The launch of a Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX ) Falcon 9 v1.1 with its payload of a Dragon spacecraft will have to wait a little longer before it takes to the skies. NASA released the new launch attempt via the NASA blog on SpaceX. This followed the scrubbed Jan. 6 launch attempt that was caused due to a actuator problem with the rocket’s second stage.
The NASA blog stated the following:
Photo Credit: Jason Rhian / SpaceFlight Insider
SpaceX will make its next attempt to launch the Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida to send the unpiloted Dragon cargo ship to the International Space Station on Saturday, Jan. 10. Launch time is approximately 4:47 a.m. Eastern time. NASA TV coverage will begin at 3:30 a.m. Eastern time.
A launch on Saturday would result in Dragon arriving at the station for its grapple on Monday, Jan. 12 at approximately 6 a.m. Eastern time.
The backup launch opportunity would be on Tuesday, Jan. 13 with launch at approximately 3:36 a.m. Eastern time. That would result in a grapple of Dragon on Thursday, Jan. 15 at approximately 6 a.m. Eastern time.
The move of the launch date to Jan. 10 results in a Dragon departure from the station on Tuesday, Feb. 10.
If everything goes according to plan, the rockets flight could herald the start of a new era in space exploration. SpaceX is planning on having the Falcon 9 conduct a controlled descent on a barge that will be placed out in the Atlantic Ocean.
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Jason Rhian
Jason Rhian spent several years honing his skills with internships at NASA, the National Space Society and other organizations. He has provided content for outlets such as: Aviation Week & Space Technology, Space.com, The Mars Society and Universe Today.
Better to be safe than sorry but can SpaceX fulfil its obligations to all of its customers this year?
14+ launches planned this year, from what I can tell. Pretty ambitious.
You incorrectly state the problem was with the actuator in the first stage. I believe SpaceX and other news sources indicated it was with the second stage. Like your website.