WASHINGTON — Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) plans to attempt the maiden launch of its Falcon 9 rocket no sooner than May 8 following installation and test of the medium-class launcher’s flight termination system, which is designed to destroy the vehicle in case the launch goes awry, the Hawthorne, Calif.-based company said April 2.

This post is only available to members.

Brian Berger is editor in chief of SpaceNews.com and the SpaceNews magazine. He joined SpaceNews.com in 1998, spending his first decade with the publication covering NASA. He was named senior staff writer in 2004, a position he held until being named...