SpaceX delays Asian communications satellite launch due to "tiny glitch"May 27, 2016 - 13:07 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - SpaceX on Thursday, May 26 postponed the launch of an Asian communications satellite after detecting a "tiny glitch" in the Falcon 9 rocket engine, CEO Elon Musk said. "There was a tiny glitch in the motion of an upper stage engine actuator," Musk said on Twitter. "Probably not a flight risk but still worth investigating." The next attempt at launching from Cape Canaveral, Florida will be Friday at the earliest, the head of the California-based company said without specifying a time. The missions aims to propel the Thaicom 8 satellite to a distant orbit some 35,800 kilometers from Earth. The satellite, built by Orbital ATK, will provide broadcast and data services to South Asia and Southeast Asia, AFP says. After launch, SpaceX plans to maneuver the tall portion of the rocket -- known as the first stage -- to an upright landing on a platform floating in the Atlantic Ocean, but it cautioned that the speed and heat involved make the prospect of success uncertain. "As with other missions going to geostationary orbits, the first stage will be subject to extreme velocities and re-entry heating, making a successful landing challenging," SpaceX said in a statement. The outcome of the return attempt is usually made public by SpaceX within half an hour of the launch. Related links: Top stories Yerevan will host the 2024 edition of the World Congress On Information Technology (WCIT). Rustam Badasyan said due to the lack of such regulation, the state budget is deprived of VAT revenues. Krisp’s smart noise suppression tech silences ambient sounds and isolates your voice for calls. Gurgen Khachatryan claimed that the "illegalities have been taking place in 2020." Partner news Most popular in the section | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |