Wednesday, December 13, 2017

SpaceX Pushes CRS-13 Launch To ISS Until Friday

Hawthorne-based SpaceX said late Tuesday evening that it is now pushing its launch of its next mission to the International Space Station until Friday, December 15th, after detection of particles in the 2nd stage fuel system for the Falcon 9. SpaceX had originally hoped to launch its payload for NASA on Tuesday morning. According to SpaceX, it is using the additional time for its team to conduct full inspections and cleanings due to that detection. The launch, if successful, would be the first time that NASA has used a previously used Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule in one of its missions. SpaceX said that, if it misses the December 15th launch date, the next launch opportunity would be no earlier than late December.