Saturday's launch failure of a SpaceX rocket was caused by a timing disparity during the second-stage separation, the company's founder said Wednesday.
"It is a design, not a production or quality assurance error," company founder Elon Musk said during a media conference call.
Saturday was the third launch failure for the Hawthorne-based developer of low-cost experimental rockets, whose full corporate name is Space Exploration Technologies
According to Musk, the Falcon 1 rocket's first stage separated properly, but maintained its thrust, thereby colliding into the second stage about 1.5 seconds later.
"What it does mean is if we had a rocket on the launch pad tomorrow, we could make that timing change very quickly," Musk said.
Musk said the launch failure will not slow SpaceX's ambitious plans, which involve proving the technology to put rockets into orbit at a fraction of current cost, and creating a long-term business out of that technology.
As early as next month, SpaceX may have its next rocket on the launch pad at Kwajalein Atoll, part of the Marshall Islands in the Pacific.
SpaceX has been profitable and cash-flow positive for the past 18 months.
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