SpaceX launch CANCELLED: Elon Musk’s SpaceX scraps rocket blast off hours before take off

The mission, referred to as SSO-A: A SmallSat Express, will involve the launch of a total of 64 small satellites, and will also offer , who has ambitions to colonise other planets starting with Mars, a further demonstration of the rocket’s longevity and durability. The rocket was scheduled to lift off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California 1.31pm EST (6.31pm GMT) before landing on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean. However, the company tweeted: “Wednesday’s launch attempt of Spaceflight SSO-A from Vandenberg Air Force Base is currently no-go due to extreme high-altitude winds that violate Range requirements.

“Vehicle and payloads are healthy. We will announce a new launch date once confirmed with the Range.”

The launch has now been delayed until Saturday December 1 at the earliest, according to the US Air Force’s 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg, which confirmed on Facebook: “The SpaceX SSO-A launch is delayed due to weather.”

This is the second time the mission has been delayed – an earlier launch attempt, on November 19, was postponed “to conduct additional preflight inspections,” according to the company.

If the company is eventually successful, it will be a significant landmark for Mr Musk, marking the first time a reusable rocket has been launched and landed three times, as well as the largest ride-share mission to launch on a US rocket.

SpaceX’s website describes the Falcon 9 as a “two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. 

It adds: “Falcon 9 is the first orbital class rocket capable of reflight. SpaceX believes rocket reusability is the key breakthrough needed to reduce the cost of access to space and enable people to live on other planets.”

Falcon 9 made history in 2012 when it delivered the free-flying spacecraft Dragon into the correct orbit for rendezvous with the International Space Station, making the first commercial company ever to visit the station. 

The company statement added: “Since then Falcon 9 has made numerous trips to space, delivering satellites to orbit as well as delivering and returning cargo from the space station for NASA. 

“Falcon 9, along with the Dragon spacecraft, was designed from the outset to deliver humans into space and under an agreement with NASA, SpaceX is actively working toward this goal.”

Speaking in May, said: “I believe Falcon 9 was the most-launched rocket worldwide in 2017.

“If things go well – big caveat – SpaceX will launch more rockets than any other country in 2018.”

he said in 2019, SpaceX was planning to launch a Falcon 9 mission, land the booster, inspect it, and get it back out the a launched in under 24 hours.

SpaceX has now successfully launched well over 50 missions on a Falcon 9 rocket since 2010. 

Mr Musk added: “By this time last year, we’d only done five orbital-class missions.

“We’re on track to be at double our launch rate for last year, which was a record launch rate for us.”

Mr Musk is hoping to colonise the within the next hundred years, and has described his plan as a “backup drive” for humanity in the event of a third world war.