Officials from SpaceX announced that the scheduled launch of its Falcon 9 rocket is expected to be delayed by months following the June 28 mishap wherein one of the space company's unmanned supply spacecraft bound for the International Space Station (ISS) was destroyed in an explosion.
SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell confirmed the delay during a scientific forum in California on Monday. She stated that the space company is still a couple of months away from its next launch.
"We're taking more time than we originally envisioned to get back to flight," Shotwell said. "But I don't think any of our customers wants us to race to the cliff and fail again."
The Falcon 9 spacecraft involved in the accident was carrying supplies worth around $110 million for the ISS crew when it was suddenly caught in an explosion and disintegrated minutes after its liftoff.
Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, said that based on the preliminary investigation of the company, a two-foot long metal strut had failed to initiate during the launch. The metal strut, which was bought from a supplier, was supposed to hold down a helium bottle as the rocket reaches its second stage.
Musk said that the space company would test every metal strut used for the rocket and not merely rely on the certification of the subcontractor. He added that the failed launch would delay SpaceX's flight schedule by a few months.
While NASA has allowed SpaceX to head the investigation regarding the launch mishap, its decision is now being questioned by Congress members.
Last week, Charles Bolden, administrator of NASA, announced that the agency will launch an independent review that will look into the cause of the accident.
SpaceX owns its own factory located near the Los Angeles International Airport where it builds the rockets, capsules and engines that it uses for its spaceflights.
Shotwell said the space company is taking safety precautions to make sure that another metal strut does not fail. It is also conducting a review of the entire Falcon 9 rocket and its chain of supply for any potential weaknesses.
SpaceX currently has orders for around 50 spacecraft launches from different clients, including NASA, the U.S. Air Force, satellite companies and foreign governments. During a recent testimony in Congress, the space company said the launch work is worth around $7 billion.
