SpaceX rocket stopped 33 seconds before launch by unexpected visitor
The Falcon 9 rocket, which was supposed to launch the payload into orbit, had to be stopped less than a minute before launch because a passenger ship appeared in the danger zone.
It was the fourth day in a row that SpaceX had to put the launch of this particular mission on hold. The Falcon 9 rocket of the COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation FM2 mission was scheduled to launch on Sunday morning. 33 seconds before launch, the mission operator ordered it to be aborted in connection with a passenger ship that appeared in the so-called. the no-go zone that the US Coast Guard failed to apprehend.
SpaceX mission aborted by ship in no-go zone
No-go zones are designated areas around rocket launch and landing sites where no persons, vehicles or ships are allowed. This is to minimize the danger in the event that Mission Control loses control of the rocket and, for example, it explodes.
Previously, this particular mission had already been postponed three times due to poor weather conditions at the launch and landing site of the rocket. Sunday’s mission promised to be perfect in terms of weather, but this time the obstacle was the human factor.
The COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation FM2 mission will monitor the Earth for environmental disasters, scientific research and commercial services. The mission is financed by the Italian Space Agency, the Italian Ministry of National Defense and scientific units from Italy. The mission consists of two satellites using SAR radar to obtain high-resolution images.
The launch of the SpaceX rocket with the COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation FM2 mission was successful for the fifth time on Monday, January 31. For the Falcon 9 rocket that carried the mission into low Earth orbit, it was the fourth successful launch and landing.
