Echostar is to suffer another delay on top of the problems it is having with Russia’s Proton rocket. This time it is SpaceX, which has delayed the launch of Echostar-23.

Taking priority from Cape Canaveral is a much-needed re-supply cargo mission to the International Space Station (ISS), scheduled for mid-February.

It is likely that the launch of Echostar-23 will follow on from this ISS mission, but not much before late-February.  Both missions will take place from SpaceX’s ‘new’ launch complex 39A. The rocket company’s Pad 40, which was badly damaged in a September 1^st explosion, is not likely to be ready for juse before the end of this year.

“This schedule change allows time for additional testing of ground systems ahead of the CRS-10 Mission,” SpaceX said in a statement. “The launch vehicles, [ISS] and the EchoStar satellite are all healthy and prepared for launch.”

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