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SpaceX delays Echostar-23 launch

January 31, 2017

By Chris Forrester

Echostar is to suffer another delay on top of the problems it is having with Russia’s Proton rocket. This time it is SpaceX, which has delayed the launch of Echostar-23.

Taking priority from Cape Canaveral is a much-needed re-supply cargo mission to the International Space Station (ISS), scheduled for mid-February.

It is likely that the launch of Echostar-23 will follow on from this ISS mission, but not much before late-February.  Both missions will take place from SpaceX’s ‘new’ launch complex 39A. The rocket company’s Pad 40, which was badly damaged in a September 1st explosion, is not likely to be ready for juse before the end of this year.

“This schedule change allows time for additional testing of ground systems ahead of the CRS-10 Mission,” SpaceX said in a statement. “The launch vehicles, [ISS] and the EchoStar satellite are all healthy and prepared for launch.”

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