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:
- Intelsat C-band ‘insider trading’ case dismissed
- UK Space Agency funds de-orbit scheme for OneWeb
- AST SpaceMobile to launch satellites in August
- SpaceRISE silent on reports of demise
- Project Kuiper seeks India licence
- FAA suspends SpaceX launches
- SpaceX vs AST SpaceMobile
- Eumetsat explains Ariane 6 cancellation
- AST SpaceMobile examines emergency call obligations