Business

Glitches keep private firm from launching rocket

Posted November 28, 2013 8:54 pm

Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A new communications satellite that has both public and government applications is still sitting on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Fla.

The privately owned SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has experienced several technical issues this year and two attempts to launch on Thanksgiving were aborted. SpaceX says it will try again in a few days to launch the 7,000-pound satellite into geostationary orbit.

The launch was originally scheduled for early this year but was scrubbed. More glitches kept it on the ground Monday. SpaceX was not granted permission by the FAA to launch Tuesday or Wednesday due to heavy Thanksgiving air traffic.

The SES-8 satellite will be used in conjunction with other communications systems to increase bandwidth capacity in Asia and provide expansion of services such as maritime communications and distance learning programs.

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