Space

SpaceX Update: Falcon 9 Is Back! Relaunch Schedule Is Today

Alex Davis
First Posted: Jan 14, 2017 03:10 AM EST

SpaceX is getting ready for a relaunch. The space company Falcon 9 rocket is going to launch again after its controversial explosion late last year. The take-off, however, is experiencing a postponement for five days due to bad weather at the company's California launch site.

Not earlier than Jan. 14, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is set for a relaunch after it exploded last September. The company's representative announced the delay on Twitter on Jan. 8. During that time, the space company was supposed to have a target launched date on Monday for the Falcon 9 rocket. It would carry 10 Iridium NEXT satellites into orbit for satellite operator Iridium. The launching is set at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base.

The representative of SpaceX wrote on Twitter that, "Launch moving due to high winds and rains at Vandenberg. Other range conflicts this week results in next available launch date being Jan 14."

As many could remember, SpaceX Falcon 9 last Sep.1 exploded while carrying another commercial satellite, Israel's Amos-6 communications satellite. The explosion happened during the routine pre-launch test at the company's launchpad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Space.com reported that, in a statement last Jan. 2, the representatives of SpaceX said that the explosion happened when the aluminum liner of a composite overwrapped helium tank inside the Falcon 9 rocket's upper stage liquid oxygen tank buckled.

The buckling allowed liquid oxygen propellant to pool between the aluminum liner and carbon overwrap covering. The pooling propellant ignited, and it resulted in a breach in the helium tank and led to the loss of the Falcon 9 rocket on the pad. Thus, the space company has modified its helium-loading process to avoid similar problems in the future.

As follows, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a launch license to SpaceX for its upcoming Falcon 9 mission on Jan. 6. The announcement happens a day after SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced via Twitter the success of Falcon 9 engine static firing at its launchpad, a standard SpaceX test performed before each of the Falcon 9 mission.

Thus, SpaceFlight Now reported that the company said, "Iridium supports SpaceX's announcement today to extend the first Iridium Next launch date into early January, in order to help ensure a successful mission. We remain as confident as ever in their ability to safely deliver our satellites into low Earth orbit."

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