SpaceX Aims For Sunday Launch And Ground Landing

SpaceX is one step closer to launching its Falcon 9 rocket again.

The commercial space company's Falcon 9 launch is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 20 at 8:29 p.m. following several delays, according to SpaceX founder Elon Musk. 

SpaceX postponed the ground testing of the rocket's engines and its systems, also known as a static fire test, from Wednesday until Friday.

"Static fire test looks good," tweeted Musk. "Pending data review, will aim to launch Sunday."

SpaceX is set to launch its upgraded Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, carrying a payload of 11 ORBCOMM-2 satellites. The low-Earth orbit satellites will provide reliable communications to and from remote areas of the world.

The Falcon 9 is set vertically on Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral in position for launch.

"We are excited to report SpaceX completed their static fire test of Falcon 9 this evening," ORBCOMM announced on Saturday.

Musk shared on Twitter on Saturday morning SpaceX will attempt to land the Falcon 9 rocket booster at Cape Canaveral instead of a drone ship as they have in the past.

The first stage will attempt to make a controlled landing at SpaceX’s Landing Zone 1, previously a U.S. Air Force testing range known as Space Launch Complex 13, according to a SpaceX news release.

This will be the first ground landing attempt for Falcon 9.

The Orlando Sentinel has learned the Federal Aviation Administration issued a license on Friday for the ORBCOMM-2 launch. The license includes SpaceX's plan to "fly-back" the first-stage rocket booster, according to a statement from the FAA.

Last month, Jeff Bezos and his company Blue Origin successfully landed their New Shepard rocket’s first stage in West Texas after launching it to the edge of space. If SpaceX sticks their landing Falcon 9 would become the first orbital rocket to make a ground landing.

There is a 10 percent chance that weather conditions could delay the launch, according to the Air Force's 45th Weather Squadron. If the launch is delayed the next possible launch date available is Monday, Dec. 21.

SpaceX will livestream the launch starting at 8:05 p.m.


Source: orlandosentinel.com