Musk Aims for Falcon 9 Launch in March as Safety Checks Proceed
Safety approvals holding up debut of Falcon 9 rocket
Spaceflight Now
The Air Force 45th Space Wing and the Federal Aviation Administration are still reviewing paperwork on the new rocket, which is currently on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral for several days of ground tests.
Because of the continuing safety checks, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk says the earliest launch could occur is around March 22, although the 154-foot-tall rocket could be ready before then.
“The rocket itself should be ready to launch by early March,” Musk told Spaceflight Now. “We are still working through the schedule for finishing the qualification tests of the flight termination system and receiving final range approval. SpaceX only has limited control over that schedule, so it is difficult to estimate the completion date accurately.”
Musk said launch may not occur until April or May.
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4 responses to “Musk Aims for Falcon 9 Launch in March as Safety Checks Proceed”
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I’m really looking forward to this. So is everyone else, I’m sure!
You are not alone this is HISTORIC! And i am really looking forward to the New Mexico Spaceport to. Cant wait for the revolution begins.
This is always the case for these guys. “Oh, well, we’re ready, but it’s the government that’s causing a holdup.” As if it was a completely new idea to them that the government would have to approve their documentation. With Falcon 1 it was the same thing. First it was the safety requirements that apparently SpaceX didn’t know anything about in advance, and then it was the fault of the range, etc., etc. When they moved Falcon 1 to Kwaj, they claimed it was just because VAFB couldn’t fit them into the schedule. But just recently in an article about Falcon 9 and its Flight Termination System, was the detail that the Falcon 1 FTS doesn’t use pyrotechnics it only shuts down the engine, so it could have NEVER been approved to fly from one of the US launch sites. Musk is a BS artist, it’s his primary skill.
A bullshit artist eh….He HAS put a ship into orbit…doesn’t sound like a BS artist to me….he is a pioneer. It is really a shame that human nature is such that some people have to slam the innovators. Tell me Ron, how many rockets have you launched? Right….zero. Come back and make comment after you have given it a try. This guy will change the industry and lead America back into the forefront of spaceflight.