SpaceX Technical issues delay Falcon 9 Rocket launch
SpaceX had planned to launch a Falcon 9 Rocket with a classified payload into orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office today, but due to technical issues the Falcon 9 rocket was lowered to its horizontal position so that further safety checks could be conducted. The new launch time is said to be tomorrow Saturday 16th at 13:27 GMT
Once the safety checks have been completed the Falcon 9 rocket will need to be raised back to its vertical position again tonight ready for launch tomorrow. SpaceX said "The additional time allows their teams to complete pre-launch checks and data reviews".
Weather is a major factor on determining a launch window and forecasts predict there is a 70% chance of acceptable weather for the new launch window of the Falcon 9 rocket.
The Falcon 9 rocket was set to launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base which is a military base on the Pacific coastline today, but late Thursday SpaceX announced the launch was being delayed to no earlier than Saturday.
The National Reconnaissance Office owns the U.S. government's intelligence gathering spy satellites. Surveillance imagery and eavesdropping technology. The NRO has codenames the payload as NROL-85 and the specifics of the payloads nature are being kept secret.
The Falcon 9 rocket is a two stage rocket powered by liquid oxygen and rocket grade kerosence. The Falcon 9 is a reusable rocket which is used for the reliable and cost efficient means of launching satellites into low earth orbit and for sending SpaceX Dragon spacecraft which includes manned missions to the International Space Station.
After separating from the upper stage of the rocket the Falcon 9 reusable rocket booster will return to a landing zone a little after takeoff. SpaceX will show the live launch of their webcast but will only focus of the first stage of the launch and the Falcon 9 booster's return to earth.
