Zee Media Bureau/Salome Phelamei
Cape Ca naveral, Fla: Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) said it will launch the AsiaSat 6 commercial communications satellite on Wednesday, August 27, a day later than previously planned.
The launch has been delayed by a day after the SpaceX rocket exploded in midair during a test flight in Texas Friday. However, no one was injured.
Now, the launch is set for 12:50 a.m. EDT (0450 GMT) Wednesday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 in Florida.
“While Friday’s F9R three engine, single stage test article and our launch site in McGregor, Texas are very different from the planned Cape Canaveral, Florida launch of the AsiaSat 6 satellite on the Falcon 9 rocket, we are taking some additional time to review the circumstances that caused the test vehicle to auto terminate to confirm that there is not a risk to orbital flight,” SpaceX spokesperson John Taylor was quoted as saying in an email.
“SpaceX prizes mission assurance above all. This action is consistent with that philosophy.”
Pending approval by the US Air Force, SpaceX will have Thursday, 28 August as a backup date in case the launch does not succeed on Wednesday.
