Bad weather forced SpaceX to cancel plans to launch 143 small satellites aboard the Falcon 9 rocket on Saturday.
The recycling team was told for another attempt Sunday at 10 a.m. EST when forecasters expected a 70% chance of appropriate conditions.
SpaceX webcast
The scores of satellites at the top of the Falcon 9 are the highest ever recorded for a single rocket, going down on the 104-satellite signal previously set by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle in the -India in February 2017.
The mission, called Transporter 1, is SpaceX’s first shared flight in a program that aims to provide low-cost access to space for potentially small satellite operators. on problems with towing routes on board rockets carrying larger satellites with higher priority.
“Excited about offering low-cost access to orbit for small companies!” SpaceX founder Elon Musk tweeted on Friday.
SpaceX costs a relatively low $ 1 million for a 440-pound satellite and $ 5,000 to launch for every 2.2 pounds above that base rate. The company says Transporter missions will be conducted every four months or so as needed.
Transporter 1 flight highlights ongoing debate in the aerospace community about the need for reformed rules governing space traffic management as more and more small satellites build low-orbit Land. Concerns include: the threat of crashes that could generate clouds of debris and the threat of other spacecraft.
“With the recent rise in non-traditional commercial space operations, including satellite servicing, space tourism and the use of large numbers of satellites to provide internet access around the world, perhaps that an update on existing roles and responsibilities will be appropriate, “NASA ‘s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel. I wrote in a recent report.
“As things stand today, there are no clear lines of authority to drive coherence among the many entities operating in space.”