SpaceX delays Hispasat launch
February 28, 2018
By Chris Forrester
The launch of Hispasat’s latest satellite (its 30W-6/1F craft) has been delayed by launch company SpaceX because of “fairing pressurisation” concerns on the rocket’s nose cone.
Hispasat says SpaceX needs to conduct additional testing on the payload fairing’s pressurisation system, which protects the rocket’s cargo as it travels through the earth’s atmosphere.
The launch will take place as soon as the incident is resolved, said Hispasat, with SpaceX adding that a new targeted launch date will be confirmed “once testing is complete and pending range availability”.
Hispasat 30W-6 is due to replace an aging 30W-4 (AKA as 1D) craft and operate from the 30 degrees West orbital position. The satellite was built by Space Systems/Loral, and will provide increased Ku-band coverage over the Americas as well as new C-band capacity.
The SpaceX launch will be the 50th, and it is intended to attempt to land the rocket’s first stage onto a floating barge (‘Of Course I Still Love You’) in the Atlantic Ocean.