Decision on new Ax-4 launch date expected soon
Decision on new Ax-4 launch date expected soon
FLORIDA: SpaceX, which appears to have fixed the liquid oxygen (LOX) leak it had detected in the Falcon-9, is expected to conduct a crucial test to validate the performance by mid-day on June 12 here.
And, depending on the findings of the test, a new date for the launch of Axiom-4 is expected to be finalised.
Axiom-4 mission partners, led by SpaceX, held two meetings on June 11 where details about the corrective actions were discussed. Sources told TOI that SpaceX decided to carry out the test and take a call on whether launch could happen as early as June 13 or 14. No final decision on this has been taken yet.
Partners met at least twice on June 12, once in the morning before the test was carried out and then once after the test was complete.
Sources said the test will involve flowing of 'low temperature fuel' to check for leaks.
'The test is expected to take a couple of hours and there will be a meeting soon after the test is complete. A final decision on the new launch date is expected to be taken there. As of now SpaceX is looking at two options, June 13 and 14, and weather appears to look OK. However, the weather will also be monitored closely,' a source said.
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