14 DAY TRIAL // Officials at Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX), in Hawthorne, California, say that a new engine glitch on the company's Falcon 9 medium-lift delivery system prevented a launch scheduled to occur Thursday, November 28.
The rocket was supposed to take off from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), in Florida, carrying the SES8 TV broadcasting satellite, its first commercial payload. Launch was scheduled for 5:39 pm EST (2239 GMT), but was canceled just mere moments before ignition.
The problem, SpaceX engineers say, was a very slow build of thrust in the rocket's engines. The nine thrusters were already ignited and roaring when the on-board computer signaled an error and shut them down. Before this happened, Falcon 9 passed every other test with flying colors, Space reports.
SpaceX has not yet provided an official estimation on when the mission launches, but CEO Elon Musk said on Twitter that the setback would probably take a few days to deal with. Falcon 9 is at its second failure to launch, following another botched attempt that took place this Monday.