Computers automatically aborted the countdown Saturday for SpaceX's first commercial flight to the International Space Station, scrubbing the launch a half-second before liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket. Higher-than-allowable pressure inside one of the Falcon 9's first stage main engines were detected after ignition as flames and smoke erupted around the base of the 15-story rocket at 4:55 a.m. EDT (0855 GMT). As engineers studied what went wrong, the SpaceX launch team began draining kerosene and liquid oxygen propellants from the two-stage rocket. There was no time to attempt a second countdown Saturday because the Falcon 9 had only a near-instantaneous window to launch and reach the space station. And in order to preserve fuel for test maneuvers on the way to the complex, SpaceX only has launch opportunities on certain days. The next try will come no sooner than Tuesday at 3:44 a.m. EDT (0744 GMT). After inspections later Saturday, engineers decided to swap out a faulty check valve in engine No. 5, which lies in the center position on the Falcon 9's tic-tac-toe pattern of nine Merlin first stage engines. "Today's launch was aborted when the flight computer detected slightly high pressure in the engine 5 combustion chamber," SpaceX said in a statement. "We have discovered root cause and repairs are underway." "During rigorous inspections of the engine, SpaceX engineers discovered a faulty check valve on the Merlin engine," company spokesperson Kirstin Brost Grantham said in a statement Saturday evening. "We are now in the process of replacing the failed valve." SpaceX expected to complete the repairs Saturday night and continue analysis Sunday. The last-second abort Saturday came after a smooth overnight countdown. SpaceX is seeking to become the first private company to launch a spacecraft to berth with the International Space Station.
GMT 12:31 2017 Sunday ,24 December
SpaceX launches 10 more satellites for IridiumGMT 18:48 2017 Tuesday ,12 December
Bitcoin makes muted stock exchange debut at $15,000GMT 18:19 2017 Saturday ,09 December
France to allow trading of securities via blockchainGMT 07:39 2017 Thursday ,16 November
Cygnus cargo ship arrives at space stationGMT 17:49 2017 Sunday ,12 November
Aircraft overhead forces Orbital to cancel cargo launchGMT 19:18 2017 Wednesday ,01 November
Sony revives robot pet dogGMT 10:31 2017 Saturday ,28 October
Saudi Arabia Becomes First Country to Grant Citizenship to RobotGMT 17:46 2017 Saturday ,21 October
Spacewalkers fix robotic arm in time to grab next cargo ship
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor