SpaceX has delayed its delivery to the International Space Station because of dangerous wind gusts.
The Falcon 9 rocket came less than an hour from launching Wednesday. But the company halted the countdown because of excessive upper-level wind at Cape Canaveral and also out in the Atlantic. SpaceX wants to land the brand new booster on an offshore barge following liftoff so it can be reused.
SpaceX said it would try again early Thursday afternoon. While the wind should be calmer, it may be cloudier.
A Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket on a resupply mission to the International Space Station stands ready for launch at Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019. (AP PhotoJohn Raoux)
The Dragon capsule contains 3 tons of supplies for NASA, including 40 ‘mighty mice’ for a muscle and bone study and barley for a beer-malting experiment. This will be the third trip to the space station for this recycled Dragon.
SpaceX has been restocking the orbiting lab since 2012. Northrop Grumman is NASA's other private shipper.
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A Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket on a resupply mission to the International Space Station stands ready for launch at Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Staton in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019. (AP PhotoJohn Raoux)