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The launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a telecommunication satellite at night, on weekends, is now scheduled for Sunday at Cape Canaveral Air Base after a late-breaking delay.
SpaceX is aiming for a launch window starting at 11:28 pm Sunday at 3:28 am Monday morning, after announcing Thursday night that it was delaying the launch of its original Saturday night goal.
"The rocket and the payload are in good health; Extra time will be used to complete pre-flight checks, "said SpaceX Thursday night.
The delay is yet another in a series of setbacks since the rocket's initial launch in July. SpaceX did not comment on the reason for the delays.
There are signs that the launch will finally materialize this weekend. The private space company led by billionaire Elon Musk made a successful test of the Falcon 9 engines on Wednesday morning, pulling them off the launch pad 40. At launch, the launch will be number 16 for Cape Town and for SpaceX this year. .
The weather conditions also look more favorable for a Sunday night launch. The 45th Air Force Meteorological Squadron had forecast cumulus and heavy clouds for Saturday, setting conditions at 60%. But the weather should improve for Sunday, new launch date, with less threat from clouds and showers. on the spaceport, "said the squadron.
Off the coast of Florida, the drone vessel of the company, "Of course, I still love you" will be able to catch the rocket Block 5 booster upon its automated return to Earth . SpaceX officials say the new Block 5 boosters can fly up to 10 times with routine inspections and up to 100 times with renovations.
The Telstar 18 VANTAGE satellite, developed by Canadian telecommunications company Telesat and shared by the APT satellite of Hong Kong, will tour the Falcon 9 rocket this weekend.
The 15,564-pound satellite is designed to remain in orbit for more than 15 years and is designed to expand broadcast, corporate communications, and government communications coverage in China, Mongolia, Southeast Asia, Japan, and other parts of the world. the Pacific Ocean and Hawaii.
The satellite will also allow direct connectivity from any point in Asia to the Americas, Telesat said.
Telstar 18 twin satellite, Telstar 19, was successfully launched in July on the Space Coast with the mission to increase communications services in the Caribbean, South America, Canada and the Atlantic North.
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