Tuesday, December 20, 2005

SpaceX Rocket Suffers Launch Damage, Scrubs Launch

El Segundo-based SpaceX, the launch payload firm headed by former PayPal founder Elon Musk, has scrubbed its second attempt at a launch of its Falcon launch vehicle. The company reported that its first stage fuel tank suffered structural damage, due to a faulty pressurization valve and an electrical fault. The company said that it will re-attempt a launch until early next year. The rocket's payload is FalconSat-2, an Air Force Academy satellite for measuring space plasma. Falcon's initial November launch date was also scrubbed, in that case due to a lack of liquid oxygen from a tank valve being set in the wrong position.