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SpaceX’s Next Launch Attempt Set for Jan. 21 |
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EL SEGUNDO, CA, Jan. 18, 2007/Satnews Daily/ ― SpaceX is planning to make the second attempt to launch its Falcon 1 rocket from the Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean on January 21, the company's CEO Elon Musk has announced.
He said the company has recently completed its first major pre-launch milestone, the Flight Readiness Review (FRR). “This confirmed that all Vehicle, Payload, Ground Support Equipment, and Personnel are ready for launch,” Musk said.
Following the FRR, the Falcon 1 was rolled out to the pad and the company completed its wet dress rehearsal, which is a full countdown that holds approximately one minute before T-0.
Musk also revealed that upgrades were done on the vehicle, the Kwajalein launch facilities, and SpaceX launch procedures, paving the way for a relatively smooth launch campaign so far. But he added a number of non-critical issues arose during the wet-dress that are now being resolved, but he says they have seen nothing to date that should delay their launch schedule.
“Going forward, a static fire is planned Thursday, January 18 (California time). We have a launch window on January 21 and 22 (California time) and are working with the range to secure a couple of additional days as contingency,” Musk said.
He said should SpaceX go beyond that, which is still a good possibility as they work with the upgraded vehicle, pad, and procedures, the next available launch window will be in mid February.
The keenly-awaited inaugural flight of Falcon 1 launch vehicle in March last year ended in a disaster when the rocket tumbled out of control and slammed into the Pacific Ocean shortly after its liftoff from the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Test Site on Omelek Island near Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean’s Marshall Islands.
An investigation later revealed that a fuel leak triggered a fire around the top of Falcon 1’s main engine leading to its destruction.
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