Falcon-9 launch tonight… possibly!
December 2, 2013
SpaceX’s third attempt to launch the SES-8 satellite could take place on the evening of December 2nd. The Thursday launch abort was blamed on oxygen being present in or near a component, but means that one of the rocket’s turbopump gas generators will need to be cleaned. SpaceX, in a statement said: “The rocket engines are healthy. The earliest possible launch attempt is Monday evening”.
SES-8 is a 3,138 kg satellite that is intended to be located to serve South Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. The launch has now been delayed twice, with minor glitches blamed on both occasions.
Other posts by Chris Forrester:
- Consultant: “European satellite mergers are failing”
- Ligado attempts to unravel Inmarsat L-band agreement
- SpaceX complains over South Africa investment rules
- Vodafone, AST test video call game changer
- Eutelsat shares hit all time low
- SpaceX valued at $350bn
- Sky New Zealand suffering satellite problems
- Analyst: Space industry worth $1.8tn by 2035
- Bank reduces AST SpaceMobile’s share target price