SpaceX scrubs Sunday launch attempt, will likely try again Monday

Enlarge / SpaceX completed a static firing on Thursday evening ahead of Sunday's planned launch. (credit: SpaceX)

7:45pm ET (00:45am UK) Sunday update: The weather cooperated just fine on Sunday evening, near sunset in Florida, but the rocket did not. With just 10 seconds to go before liftoff, the on-board computers detected some issue within the rocket's guidance, navigation, and control system. At that point the flight computers stopped the countdown just before the engines were ignited. This forced a 24-hour scrub.

If it can diagnose and fix the problem, SpaceX will make a second attempt to launch the Intelsat 35e satellite on Monday, with the launch window opening at, or around, 7:37pm ET (00:37am UK).

Original post: SpaceX will look to continue its high launch cadence later on Sunday with its third mission in just nine days, and fourth in a month. For the launch, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will attempt to deliver the Intelsat 35e communications satellite to geostationary transfer orbit. The launch window opens at 7:36pm ET (00:36am UK) and spans 58 minutes. The primary concern is weather, with just a 40 percent chance of favorable conditions at launch time.

Read 5 remaining paragraphs | Comments