NASA and SpaceX forced to cancel launch at last minute due to poor weather conditions
SpaceX was set to launch two astronauts into space tonight
by Shivali BestNASA and SpaceX have been forced to cancel today's historic launch, due to poor weather conditions.
SpaceX was set to launch two astronauts into space tonight - the first step on the path to landing on Mars.
Two NASA astronauts, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, were to take off from Florida - the first spaceflight to take off from the US in nine years.
But poor weather conditions have forced NASA to reschedule the flight until Saturday.
In a blog about the cancellation, NASA said: "NASA and SpaceX have scrubbed today’s launch attempt of the Demo-2 test flight to the International Space Station with astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley due to unfavorable weather conditions around Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
"SpaceX will begin removing propellant from the Falcon 9 rocket and then the astronauts will exit the Crew Dragon spacecraft.
"Launch coverage will continue until the crew has left the pad for Astronaut Crew Quarters."
The next launch attempt will now take place at 15:22 EDT (22:22 BST) on Saturday, May 30.
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Ahead of today's launch attempt, the US Air Force 45th Weather Squadron predicted a 60% change of unfavourable weather conditions for the mission.
Mike McAleenan, 45th Weather Squadron Launch Weather Officer, said: “It certainly has been trending better over the last day or two for launch weather. If I was to issue the forecast today, right now, we would probably be down to 40% chance of violation.”