SpaceX delay launch from Nasa's historic moon pad after rocket problem
Last-minute rocket trouble has forced SpaceX to delay its inaugural launch from Nasa's historic moon pad.
SpaceX halted the countdown with just 13 seconds remaining. The problem with the second-stage thrust control actually cropped up several minutes earlier.
With just a single second to get the Falcon rocket airborne, flight controllers could not resolve the issue in time.
SpaceX scrubs Saturday launch, plans to try again Sunday https://t.co/YoBMjFyxOJ pic.twitter.com/pNIPLKQi0F
— Bloomberg (@business) February 18, 2017
The next launch attempt, provided everything can be fixed quickly, would be Sunday morning.
The unmanned Falcon rocket remains at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A, waiting to soar on a space station delivery mission.
It is the same pad where Americans flew to the moon almost 50 years ago.
For over 43 years, Pad 39A was alive. Silent since July 2011, we hope it comes to life again today. Good luck @SpaceX @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/LHHMGVDZjh
— Mark Polansky (@Astro_127) February 18, 2017
Thousands of guests had jammed into the space centre to witness the comeback of 39A, last used in 2011 for the last space shuttle flight.
"Hold, hold, hold!" a launch controller urged over the radio loops, to everyone's disappointment.
"Standing down to take a closer look at positioning of the second stage engine nozzle," SpaceX said later via Twitter.
LAUNCH ALERT: 10:01am ET launch of @SpaceX Dragon carrying science & supplies to the @Space_Station. Watch live: https://t.co/mzKW5uV4hS pic.twitter.com/GNYQqxUMJD
— NASA (@NASA) February 18, 2017
This will be SpaceX's first Florida launch since a rocket explosion last summer.
The September 1 accident occurred during pre-launch testing at a neighbouring pad.
SpaceX turned to Launch Complex 39A, which it leases from Nasa, to resume flights. The company hopes to launch astronauts from 39A next year.
Russia, meanwhile, plans to launch a supply ship to the International Space Station on Wednesday.
If the SpaceX mission does not get going soon, it would likely have to get in line behind the Russian delivery.
