spacetoday.net: Falcon 1 launch scrubbed

Posted: Tue, Mar 20, 2007, 7:51 AM ET (1151 GMT)
Falcon 1 on pad at Omelek Island (SpaceX)

The launch of the second Falcon 1 small launch vehicle was scrubbed late Monday shortly before liftoff because of a technical glitch. The launch of the Falcon 1 from Omelek Island, part of Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean, had been scheduled for 7 pm EDT (2300 GMT) Monday, but was delayed 45 minutes because of a problem relaying rocket telemetry. The problem appeared to have been corrected, but the launch was scrubbed with a little over one minute remaining in the countdown, again apparently because of telemetry problems. Officials with SpaceX, the developer of the Falcon 1, said they would delay the launch 24-48 hours while they correct the problem; a new launch date had not been announced as of early Tuesday. The first Falcon 1 launch, almost exactly one year ago, ended in failure when a fire shut down the first stage engine about a half-minute after liftoff.