SpaceX Rocket Test-Fire Has Problems
Observers Say Test Appeared To Have Been Aborted
POSTED: Tuesday, March 9, 2010
  Florida Today |
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- SpaceX's test-firing of its Falcon 9 rocket engines on Tuesday appeared to have been aborted as a result of some technical problem, observers said.The nine Merlin 1C engines clustered at the bottom of the rocket's first stage ignited at 1:41 p.m., but it did not appear the test-firing went the full 3.5 seconds as intended, observers told Local 6 News partner Florida Today.The water deluge system at Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station started pouring water on the pad, the engines ignited in a fleeting flash of orange light, black smoke billowed up the side of the 180-foot vehicle but then the engines cutoff. Observers said it appeared as if flight computers detected some problem and automatically shut down the engines before the planned 3.5-second test was completed.SpaceX officials were not immediately available for comment.The test-firing is considered a major milestone to the inaugural launch of the Falcon 9, which now is scheduled for March 22.The Falcon 9 first stage is equipped with nine Merlin 1C engines that were designed and developed by SpaceX.The engines use RP-1, a highly refined kerosene, and liquid oxygen as propellants. They are designed to be recovered from the ocean, refurbished and reused. Each of the engines produces 125,000 pounds of thrust at sea level.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
Copyright 2010 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and ClickOrlando.com.
All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten
or redistributed.
The views expressed are not those of clickorlando.com, WKMG or its affiliated companies. This is a community moderated forum (Please note the 'Flag' button). By posting your comments you agree to accept our Terms of Use.
blog comments powered by Disqus
Two surfers are bitten by sharks in separate attacks in the water off Volusia County.
A Central Florida sheriff's deputy hits and kills a pedestrian, FHP says.
A Central Florida teen mother who fled after learning that her infant son was going to be placed into state custody is detained.
A woman in Central Florida is injured when she ignites a fire while smoking a cigarette as she fills her car with gas.
Forget about de-cluttering your closet or cleaning out your car, maybe it's time for a more metaphorical cleanup. Organize those important things in your life that will truly make it more fulfilling.
A father of seven in Ohio is accused of raping, abusing and confining his family members to their home for at least 15 years.
24-year-old Edward Nino Hernandez of Bogota, Colombia is now the world's shortest mobile man. The Guinness Book of Records measured him at 27.46 inches tall. (Sept. 6)
The "Black Widow" of eating contests gobbled up nearly 181 chicken wings in 12 minutes, devouring the national championship record in Buffalo, New York on Sunday. Sonya "Black Widow" Thomas ate 4.86 pounds of chicken wings to win the contest. (Sept 6)
More than 50-thousand people gathered in the desert in northern Nevada for the climax of the annual "Burning Man." The week-long art, music and performance festival in the Black Rock Desert ended with the burning of a 40-foot structure of a man. (Sept. 6)
New York authorities say a 4-year-old girl with serious health problems has been found dead in her apartment. Her mother is being questioned by police.
School lunches back in the 70's and 80's weren't complete unless you carried one of these sweet lunch boxes into the cafeteria.
These moms-to-be are proud to strut their stuff in a Houston bikini contest.
Here's a look at some of the individuals who have recently been arrested in Central Florida.
The powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake that smashed buildings, cracked roads and twisted rail lines around a New Zealand city also ripped a new 11-foot-wide fault in the earth's surface, officials said Sunday.
Email Alerts
RSS News Feeds
Mobile
Live Streams
Slideshows
Video
Search
