Falcon 9 takes off on its first flight. (Credit: Chris Thompson SpaceX)
SpaceX Tweaking Falcon 9 Software for Upcoming Launch
Space News
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) is making minor software modifications on its Falcon 9 medium-lift rocket in preparation for its second flight, now targeted for October, based on issues encountered during the vehicle’s successful debut in June.
Improvements to Falcon 9 hardware have been under way since the company completed an internal analysis of the vehicle’s maiden launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. A videotape of the launch posted on the company’s website shows the rocket rotated several degrees as it left the launch pad.
In a Sept. 2 e-mail, SpaceX spokeswoman Kirstin Brost said engineers are “tweaking the engine gimbal angle in software†to correct the problem. Another fix in the works involves relocating a liquid oxygen drain outlet that contributed to a second-stage roll captured by an on-board camera that taped the launch from liftoff to orbit insertion.
“The second-stage roll is being fixed by changing the location of the [liquid oxygen] pump drain outlet to avoid chilling the hydraulic lines of the roll control actuator,†Brost said.
In addition, the company has been investigating the cause of a failed second-stage restart attempt that occurred during the maiden flight. In June, SpaceX spokeswoman Emily Shanklin said the restart was not a primary mission objective for the debut, “but we actually did reignite briefly and we are evaluating that data.â€
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