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Nasa and SpaceX's historic launch aborted just minutes before take off due to weather conditions

The Crew Dragon capsule is prepared for launch from the Kennedy Space Centre: AP
The Crew Dragon capsule is prepared for launch from the Kennedy Space Centre: AP

Nasa and SpaceX’s historic launch has been aborted due to bad weather conditions, just minutes before take off.

An estimated 1.7 million people from around the world tuned in to watch take-off from The Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday.

But bad weather prevented what would have been the first launch of Nasa astronauts from US soil in nine years, with the capsule now due to attempt lift-off on Saturday.

The launch was aborted with about 17 minutes to go before lift off, it was reported.

The Falcon 9 rocket was set to lift off at about 9.30pm (UK time) with the Crew Dragon capsule carrying Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley to the International Space Station.

The US Air Force's 45th Weather Squadron, which monitors the weather for air and space operations, had forecast between a 40 per cent and 60 per cent chance of favourable conditions at the launch site in Florida.

The Crew Dragon capsule is prepared for launch from the Kennedy Space Centre (AP)
The Crew Dragon capsule is prepared for launch from the Kennedy Space Centre (AP)

Nasa, which has strict rules about the conditions for manned crew missions, said of one these rules was being violated just minutes before the launch.

The earliest the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and the Crew Dragon spacecraft could depart is this weekend, with potential launch windows available on Saturday and Sunday.

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