spacetoday.net: Technical problem scrubs Falcon 9 launch

Posted: Sat, Jun 21, 2014, 9:46 AM ET (1346 GMT)
Falcon 9 v1.1 before ORBCOMM OG2 1st launch (SpaceX)

A pressurization problem with the second stage of the Falcon 9 rocket forced SpaceX to scrub the planned launch of six communications satellites Friday evening from Cape Canaveral. SpaceX had planned to launch the six ORBCOMM OG2 satellite Friday at 6:08 pm EDT (2208 GMT), but delayed the launch after reporting a drop in pressure in the second stage's propulsion system. SpaceX could not resolve the problem before the launch window closed at 7:01 pm EDT (2301 GMT) Friday. SpaceX said they could attempt the launch again Saturday at 5:46 pm EDT (2146 GMT), but as of early Saturday morning had not confirmed those launch plans. The launch, originally scheduled for mid-May, has been postponed by both issues with the Falcon 9 v1.1 rocket as well as the satellite payload. The satellites are part of a group of 17 built by Sierra Nevada Corporation that will replace ORBCOMM's aging fleet of existing satellites that provide data relay services from low Earth orbit.