Sun, Feb 26, 2006
Static Test-Firing Possible March 17
SpaceX founder Elon Musk
tells Aero-News the company has set a tentative launch window for
the maiden flight of its Falcon 1 rocket. The window runs from
March 20 through 25, with a static test-firing of the
rocket's engine likely on March 17. By that time, SpaceX
expects issues that popped up during the
first static fire-test earlier this month -- which led
to the scrubbing of the company's third launch attempt -- will be
resolved.
Elon filled us on the latest:
The tentative launch window for the maiden flight of Falcon
1 is March 20 through 25. The gating items are receiving a shipment
of liquid oxygen (LOX) from Hawaii and switching out the 2nd stage
tank. Obviously, long term operations on Kwaj will require that we
install a state-of-the-art, high reliability LOX plant on island.
In the meantime, we will get through first launch with LOX
shipments from Hawaii and whatever output we can generate from the
sad, old clunker of a LOX plant that we currently own.
We are also replacing the 2nd stage tank, following
discovery of a small leak. Fortunately, a Falcon 2nd stage tank
just barely fits through the door of a standard cargo airplane (no
C-17 required), so the flight is relatively inexpensive and readily
available. Fixing the leak in the tank being shipped back is not a
huge task, but also not something easily done far away from the
factory. Countdown procedures have been modified to prevent such
leaks from developing in the future.
The static fire performed during the last countdown attempt
was really helpful as a preflight systems checkout, so we will be
doing one again three or four days before the next countdown (most
likely March 17). In addition, we are doing another systems review
with DARPA, AF and NASA in early March.
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