Monday, May 21, 2012

SpaceX Confirms Tuesday Launch Window

Hawthorne-based SpaceX, the commercial rocket and spacecraft firm headed by technology mogul Elon Musk, is getting set for another attempt to launch its historic mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The firm--which has seen a number of delays in its attempt to launch the mission--said it will begin webcasting the launch at 3:00 A.M. Eastern time on Tuesday, May 22nd. The launch is set for liftoff at 3:44 A.M. Eastern time. SpaceX scrubbed its launch on Saturday due to an equipment issue in one of its rockets, which the firm said was the result of a fault check valve. If successful, the launch will be the first to dock a commercial rocket and vehicle with the ISS, and could help SpaceX move one step closer to delivering supplies--and eventually, astronauts--to space.