The Falcon 9 rocket’s main engines briefly ignited at launch pad 39A in a standard pre-launch test. This is the second time this booster has test fired its engines on a launch pad at Cape Canaveral. The first stage first fired at launch complex 40 prior to the CRS-8 space station resupply mission in April last year. It is scheduled to be the first SpaceX rocket to launch a second time when it carries the SES 10 communications satellite into orbit later this week.
Mission Reports
Rocket Lab finishes test flight inquiry, plans second launch later this year
The inaugural test flight of Rocket Lab’s commercial small satellite booster in May fell short of orbit because a software programming error on a piece of ground equipment led a safety officer to send a premature termination command, and the company is planning to deliver the next Electron vehicle to its New Zealand launch pad in October.
