Monday, May 21, 2012

SpaceX Launch Aborted, New Try On Tuesday

Hawthorne-based SpaceX aborted its launch Saturday of its mission to the International Space Station, and said it will try against early Tuesday morning to get its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft into orbit. SpaceX aborted its launch on Saturday morning two seconds before launch, in what SpaceX said was a "slightly high pressure in the engine 5 combustion chamber". SpaceX said repairs are underway on its engine, and a faulty check valve on its engine. If SpaceX is able to launch and dock with the International Space Station, it will mark the first time, ever, that a commercially developed rocket and spacecraft will have docked with the ISS. SpaceX said its next launch windows opens on Tuesday, May 22nd, at 3:44am Eastern.