SpaceX suspended the launch of its new Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket on Thursday, not more than a minute prior to its takeoff scheduled time.
The launch will happen today somewhen between 16:14 and 18:21 EDT, from the Cape Canaveral Air Force base in Florida. “The launcher and his cargo are in good condition,” declared a SpaceX spokesperson but without mentioning the reasons why the shuttle takeoff was aborted with 58 seconds before its scheduled launch.
Falcon 9 Block 5 and SpaceX Dragon capsule will make the first US-based rocket to fly humans into space since 2011
This rocket, which will be more efficient and easier to recover for future uses in comparison to the prior versions, was about to make its opening flight on Thursday.
The main objective of the rocket’s first mission is to deploy a Bangladeshi communications satellite, called Bangabandhu Satellite-1.
Ultimately, the new Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket will be used to carry astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) on the Dragon capsule, currently still under development.
In this regard, the first mission with human personnel is programmed for December 2018, which will also be the first time that an US-made rocket will fly astronauts into space since the shutdown of the country’s space shuttle program in 2011.
SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 will attempt a successful come back on the platform in the Atlantic Ocean
“We hope that there will be literally no action (reconstruction) between flights, as well as with aircraft. It has taken us, since 2002, 16 years of extreme effort and many, many interactions, and thousands of small but important changes to get as far as we think it is possible,” said Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX.
From now on, SpaceX will intensify its work on the BFR heavy-duty rockets which will be the future generation of SpaceX rockets.
As usual, after its takeoff, the new SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5, which has been rescheduled for today at 16:14 – 18:21 EDT, will attempt a perfect landing on the renowned Atlantic Ocean’s SpaceX platform, “Of course I still love you.”
