Now on its fourth attempt, SpaceX will launch a telecommunications satellite on Tuesday evening from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
Unlike the past three attempts, the fourth one will have an earlier launch window starting at 6:35 PM. It will close at 8:05 PM.
According to SpaceX, the earlier schedule will help them avoid upper-level winds better.
The team is mainly on the lookout for thick layers of clouds and cumulus clouds. But according to 45th Weather Squadron's launch forecast, there's an 80 percent chance of good weather at the Launch Complex 40.
As a backup, the team is looking at a Thursday relaunch schedule which also comes with an 80 percent likelihood of good weather as per the 45th Weather Squadron.
Last Sunday, SpaceX called off its third telecommunications satellite launch attempt just a few seconds before its liftoff. SpaceX cited that a boat strayed into the launch site's restricted zone.
On Twitter, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said that the computers automatically shut down Falcon 9 rocket's nine engines due to a low thrust detection.
"@SpaceX Launch aborted on low thrust alarm. Rising oxygen temps due to hold for boat and helium bubble triggered alarm," tweeted Musk last Sunday.
The first two launch attempts last week were also scrubbed because they had problems with the liquid oxygen not chilled to freezing point. SpaceX needed a denser form of the liquid oxygen for the upgraded Falcon 9 rocket to launch the 11,600-pound SES-9 satellite.
For the Tuesday launch, SpaceX will try to land the first stage 400 miles off Florida shores. Instead of landing on the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, it will land on an unmanned barge in the Atlantic Ocean.
Due to the SES-9's high-orbit delivery and incoming speed, SpaceX doesn't expect an effective landing on the unmanned barge. However, industry experts expressed that an ocean barge landing will help lower costs.
This will lead to reduced financial bases for launching space deliveries. Some also say that it'll help SpaceX to propel towards a mission to the red planet.
The SES-9 telecommunication satellite was designed by Luxembourg-based SES. It will provide broadband, video, government and maritime communications from 22,000 miles in the Asia-Pacific region.
Photo: SpaceX Photos | Flickr
