SpaceX delays Falcon 9 launch until Thursday
Poor weather conditions prevent rocket from lifting off
SpaceX chief Elon Musk has confirmed that the company has postponed the launch of its Falcon 9 rocket, owing to poor weather conditions.
The launch was scheduled to take place today from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, but Musk revealed on Twitter that high-altitude winds have forced the mission to be rescheduled for Thursday.
The aerospace firm are set to deliver three satellites into orbit, reports Engadget. The first is a satellite that will spend five-and-a-half years in space “carrying out radar and imaging work” for the Spanish government and businesses.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The second payload is two SpaceX satellites that will be used in the first phase of testing in “an ambitious plan to eventually deliver global satellite internet”, says Ars Technica. The company aims to send “more than 4,000” satellites into orbit by 2024.
The rocket itself, one of the firm’s frequently used Falcon 9s, features a booster stage that was recovered from a previous mission.
SpaceX hopes to not only land the booster stage of this rocket, but also recover the “clam-shell-like nose cone” that protects the craft’s payload, says the Daily Mail.
Each nose cone costs £4.3m, the website says, so its recovery could bring down the cost of SpaceX’s subsequent missions.
The launch is scheduled to commence at 9:17am ET (12.17pm GMT) and will be streamed on SpaceX’s official website, says Ars Technica.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Who are Syria's resurgent rebels?
The Explainer Surprise Aleppo offensive, led by controversial faction, has blindsided Bashar al-Assad and his allies
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Magical festive light trails around the UK
The Week Recommends These twinkling displays have pulled out all the stops to get you in the mood for Christmas
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Donald Trump has said 'the most beautiful word in the dictionary is tariff'
Today's Big Question Donald Trump's threat to impose crippling tariffs 'part of a broader turn towards protectionism in the West'
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
Bluesky: the social media platform causing a mass X-odus
The Explainer Social media platform is enjoying a new influx but can it usurp big rivals?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
What Trump's win could mean for Big Tech
Talking Points The tech industry is bracing itself for Trump's second administration
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Is the world ready for Tesla's new domestic robots?
Talking Points The debut of Elon Musk's long-promised "Optimus" at a Tesla event last week has renewed debate over the role — and feasibility — of commercial automatons
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
The next place you'll find Starlink tech isn't a war zone — it's your airplane seat
Under the Radar Several major airlines are offering free in-flight Wi-Fi through the technology
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Elon Musk's X blinks in standoff with Brazil
Speed Read Brazil may allow X to resume operations in the country, as Musk's company agrees to comply with court demand
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Starliner: What went wrong?
Today's Big Question Boeing spacecraft has had a 'long, difficult road'
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Boeing, SpaceX successfully test key rockets
Speed Read Boeing’s Starliner docked at the ISS and SpaceX completed its fourth test launch of its Starship spacecraft
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Google's new AI bot 'woke'?
Talking Points Gemini produced images of female popes and Black Vikings. Now the company has stepped back.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published