SpaceX said it called off the third attempt to launch six Orbcomm telecommunication satellites on its Falcon 9 rocket on Sunday when a preflight check turned up a "potential concern." The nature of the concern was not specified, but SpaceX said engineers were taking extra time to address it. Tuesday is the next opportunity for launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Sunday's scrub came after earlier postponements due to a tank pressure glitch on Friday, and an ill-timed lightning strike on Saturday.
SpaceX had planned to webcast Sunday's countdown after facing a storm of criticism for providing so little information during Saturday's aborted launch attempt. The six Orbcomm OG2 spacecraft are to be part of a satellite constellation for machine-to-machine data communications and for monitoring ships at sea.
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IN DEPTH
- SpaceX Aims to Blaze New Trail for Rocket Technology
- Cargo Launch and Rocket Test Add Up to 'Happy Day' for SpaceX
- Mission Status Center for Orbcomm OG2 Launch (Spaceflight Now)
SOCIAL
— Alan Boyle, NBC News