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The First SpaceX Falcon 9 "Block 5" Rocket Propeller Stands on the Launch Pad at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Control Post in Florida , in anticipation of its second mission, August 6, 2018 The same rocket will take off a third time no earlier than December 1, 2018.
Credit: SpaceX
SpaceX once again delayed the launch of its historic carpooling mission SSO-A, scheduled to Launch 64 small satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket reused twice Wednesday, November 29.
Nicknamed "SSO-A: SmallSat Express", the mission was to take off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on a Falcon. 9 rockets at 13:31 EST (18:31 GMT) before landing on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean. If successful, this would be the third launch and landing of this "Block 5" Falcon 9 rocket booster – a historic first for SpaceX's reusable rockets.
But now, the rocket and its flock of small satellites will remain on the ground until Saturday (December 1st at least), according to the 30th Space Wing of the US Air Force in Vandenberg. "The launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 SSO-A is delayed due to weather conditions," wrote the 30th Space Squadron on Facebook. [SpaceX’s 1st ‘Block 5’ Falcon 9 Rocket: The Launch Photos]
SpaceX then added in a tweet that the delay was due to extreme high altitude winds and that the company would announce a new launch date "once confirmed with the range".
Attempt to launch Spaceflight SSO Wednesday – Vandenberg Air Base is currently banned due to extreme high-altitude winds that do not meet range requirements. Vehicles and payloads are in good health. We will announce a new launch date once confirmed with the range.
– SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 28, 2018
This is the second time this month that the SSO-A mission is delayed; a previous launch attempt on November 19 had been postponed "to conduct additional preflight inspections," SpaceX officials said. SpaceX has not yet released a statement regarding the delay taken today.
Not only will the SSO-A mission mark history by launching and landing a reusable rocket a third time, but it will also be the largest carpool mission in the world. launch on an American rocket, according to Spaceflight, the mission management provider.
SpaceX will probably release an update of the SSO-A mission on Twitter once the new release date has been confirmed. You can also follow the 30th Space Wing on Facebook for additional weather updates and an event once a year. new date / time is chosen.
Email Hanneke Weitering at [email protected] or follow her @hannekescience . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. Original article on Space.com.
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