The launch of Elon Musk's SpaceX, the most potent rocket ever constructed, has been called off.
The two-stage rocketship, which is 394ft taller than the Statue of Liberty, was scheduled to launch on Monday (April 17) shortly after 2pm BST.
The corporation intended that the brief but eagerly awaited launch from Texas would mark the beginning of a manned mission to the moon and eventually Mars.
However, shortly after 2pm, Musk tweeted that it was likely to be cancelled.
A pressurant valve appears to be frozen, so unless it starts operating soon, no launch today
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 17, 2023
“A pressurant valve appears to be frozen, so unless it starts operating soon, no launch today,” he said.
The billionaire added another attempt will be made in “a few days”.
When is the SpaceX rocket launch?
The team will have to wait at least 48 hours (or two days) before making another attempt.
Musk had previously expressed concern about potential launch issues. On its first launch, a rocket frequently encounters some sort of failure.
"It's the first launch of a very complicated, gigantic rocket, so it might not launch. We're going to be very careful, and if we see anything that gives us concern, we will postpone the launch," he told a Twitter Spaces event.
If the next launch goes swiftly, Musk wants the SpaceX rocket to be completely reusable and envisions being able to launch people and satellites into orbit on a daily basis, similar to how a jet airliner might fly across the Atlantic.
He thinks that the vehicle could usher in a time when ordinary individuals could travel to other planets.
How to watch the launch
SpaceX will provide its own live broadcast. Additionally, it is typically directly accessible on YouTube.
The live stream normally starts a little over 45 minutes before launch.
Prior to and following the live stream, SpaceX makes extensive use of Twitter to share new information about its goals and current events.
