SpaceX has performed successful launches and visits to the International Space Station in the past. The company had a setback on Monday morning, but hopes to relaunch on Friday.
On Tuesday, Space Exploration Technology canceled the launch of their Falcon 9 rocket. Space Exploration Technology, otherwise known as SpaceX, planned to launch at 3:20 am PST Tuesday morning, but postponed the launch due to a problem found in the actuators of the second stage of the rocket.
SpaceX, a private company, signed a contract with NASA to carry both cargo, and eventually astronauts, to the International Space Station. The launch was to take place in Cape Canaveral in Florida, but will be postponed until Friday at the earliest.
“During the terminal count engineers observed drift on one of the two thrust vector actuators on the second stage that would likely have caused an automatic abort. Engineers called a hold in order to take a closer look,” said John Taylor of SpaceX in a statement.
The actuators are used to maneuver the spacecraft during flight; the second stage of the rocket will deliver the supplies to the space station.
Falcon 9 is a 14-story rocket with two stages. Though the main mission of the rocket is to deliver important cargo to the International Space Station, the private company hopes to revolutionize the spacecraft field by landing the first stage of the rocket on an autonomous platform in the ocean. Landing the first stage of the spacecraft would allow the company to recycle the parts and reuse the rocket. Traditionally, spacecraft are are burned up reentering Earth’s atmosphere and crash into the ocean in a multitude of debris. SpaceX hopes to save resources by landing the craft; a successful landing could significantly cut the costs of space travel.
On Monday night, the founder of SpaceX Elon Musk answered some questions on Reddit’s “Ask Me Anything”. During the hour long process, Musk answered 26 questions posted by users, and shared his intent to unveil plans for space travel to Mars by the end of the year. Musk stated that he is working on plans to send colonists to Mars. The founder of SpaceX also shared the company’s current efforts to create a new space suit that is both functional and aesthetic.
