SpaceX Now Targeting Tuesday for SES-8 Launch
SpaceX spokeswoman Emily Shanklin tells SpacePolicyOnline.com this morning that they will try to launch SES-8 tomorrow, Tuesday, December 3, not today. Earlier the company had said that today was the “earliest” it would be ready to try again.
In an email, Shankin said that “we’re now targeting launch on Tuesday with Wednesday as a back-up day. We made great progress over the weekend so looks good for Tuesday.”
SpaceX made three attempts on November 25 and two attempts on November 28 to launch the SES-8 communications satellite. This is SpaceX’s first launch to geostationary transfer orbit. On November 28, the autosequencer aborted the launch at the very last instant. SpaceX reported on its website that it was “caused by oxygen in the ground side ingiter fluid (TEA-TEB). Rocket engines are healthy, but cleaning turbopump gas generators wlll take another day. Earliest possible launch attempt is Monday evening.”
SpaceX founder and CTO Elon Musk tweeted (@elonmusk) yesterday that they “Replaced gas generator on engine 9 (center) as a precautionary measure.” This morning he tweeted that “All known rocket anomalies resolved. Will spend another day rechecking to be sure. Launch attempt tmrw eve w Wed as backup.”
Shanklin added later than the launch window tomorrow is 5:41 – 6:47 pm ET.
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