SpaceX postpones rocket launch again

Miami, Feb 26: Just minutes before liftoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida, SpaceX has scrubbed the launch of its Falcon 9 rocket to propel a communications satellite into orbit, its second delay in as many days.

The reason for the postponement was not immediately given. Technicians suddenly called, "Hold, hold, hold," about two minutes before the launch window opened at 6:47 pm (2347 GMT).

"We are going to be scrubbing the launch for this evening," said a spokesman on SpaceX's live webcast, moments later yesterday. Another launch date has not yet been set, he said.

After the launch, the company intends to try an ocean landing of the rocket's first stage, but has warned the touchdown was not expected to succeed. Headed by Internet entrepreneur Elon Musk, who also runs Tesla Motors, the company is working to hone the techniques of recycling rockets, instead of jettisoning their costly components after each launch.

The aim is to make launches more affordable and environmentally friendly. The launch is commissioned by SES, a Luxembourg-based company that specializes in worldwide satellite communications. The goal of the mission is to propel a Boeing-built SES-9 satellite -- delivering television and high-speed broadband to the Asia-Pacific region -- to a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) far above the equator. (AFP) ASV