Falcon 9

The planned launch of Space Exploration Technologies’ (SpaceX) first commercial satellite aboard a Falcon 9 rocket has been postponed due to technical issues.

SpaceX said it had noticed some unexpected readings with the first stage liquid oxygen system, minutes before the rocket was due to be launched.

The upgraded Falcon 9 successfully completed its debut test flight on 29 September, and had been scheduled to liftoff at 5.37pm EST on 25 November from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, US.

According to the company, the next launch attempt is planned for Thursday 5.38pm EST.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 will carry a 2,900kg SES-8 communications satellite worth $100m, to offer television, broadband and cable, amongst other services to India, China, Vietnam and other Asian markets.

"We know that as we go forward into these very significant growth markets that it’s absolutely critical that we have a cost-effective and efficient way to get to orbit."

SES-8 is owned by Luxembourg-based SES and will be SpaceX’s first launch to a geostationary transfer orbit, 80,000km from Earth.

SES chief technology officer Martin Halliwell was quoted by Reuters as saying that SES-8 is an important satellite for the company.

SES’s previous satellites were launched mainly aboard Russian Proton and European Ariane rockets, which cost more than the $55m the company is currently paying for SpaceX’s Falcon rocket.

"We know that as we go forward into these very significant growth markets that it’s absolutely critical that we have a cost-effective and efficient way to get to orbit," Halliwell said.

SpaceX has successfully flown Falcon 9 six times to date, including the test launch of the upgraded version of upgraded Falcon 9 on 29 September.

Image: SpaceX Falcon 9 during demo flight. Photo: courtesy of Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

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