SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9 rocket launch scrapped due to high winds

Ready for lift-off: SpaceX's Falcon 9
SpaceX
Eleanor Rose21 February 2018

SpaceX's reusable Falcon 9 rocket is set to blast satellites into space 24 hours later than expected due to high winds.

The launch was due to kick off from 2.17pm GMT (6.17am Pacific Time) today at California’s Vandenberg Air Force base.

But due to high winds experts were forced to push the launch back by 24 hours.

It is now set to take place on Thursday at the same time.

Enthusiasts can watch a Spanish satellite known as PAZ and two of SpaceX's own experimental satellites blasted into low earth orbit on Falcon 9 on a livestream.

The Spanish satellite was built by Airbus and is operated by Hisdesat, part of Spain's national satellite company.

SpaceX's own two experimental non-geostationary orbit satellites, called Microsat-2a and -2b, are also being blasted off as part of the firm's first phase of testing to investigate how it could one day provide broadband by satellite.

Elon Musk's company will also try to recover the fairings that fall off when the payload is lifted off into space, dashing to a "recovery zone" in the Pacific Ocean in a boat called Mr Steven.

SpaceX hit headlines earlier this month when space enthusiasts around the world watched its Falcon Heavy rocket - the most powerful in the world today - blast off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

SpaceX Falcon launch - In pictures

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Mr Musk's cherry red Tesla sports car was jetted off into orbit around the globe to the delight of thousands of fans.

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