SpaceX scrubbed Thursday night's launch of a Falcon 9 rocket "out of an abundance of caution."

  • SpaceX will attempt to launch Falcon 9 rocket at 5:39 p.m. Friday
  • 2-hour launch window will extend until 7:39 p.m.
  • Rocket carries THAICOM-8 satellite

The rocket was supposed to launch when the two-hour launch window opened up at 5:40 p.m., but the launch immediately went into a delay.

SpaceX announced around 6:45 p.m. that Thursday's launch was postponed until no earlier than Friday for additional data review.

In a tweet from SpaceX's verified account, the space agency said Falcon 9 and the spacecraft remain healthy.

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, said there was a "tiny glitch" in the motion of an upper-stage engine actuator. "Probably not a flight risk, but still worth investigating," Musk said.

SpaceX will again try to launch — and land — a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Friday.

The two hour launch window opens at 5:39 p.m.

The rocket is carrying a THAICOM-8 commercial communications satellite into orbit. Thaicom is one of Asia's leading satellite operators, and the satellite will provide broadcast and data services for Thailand, Southeast Asia, India and Africa.

After the launch, the first stage of the rocket will attempt to land on the "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship off the Brevard County coast. If successful, it would be the third such landing in the company's history.

This is the first of four launches for Cape Canaveral Air Force Station scheduled through July. United Launch Alliance is scheduled to launch a Delta IV Heavy rocket June 4 and an Atlas V rocket June 24.

SpaceX will also attempt to land its stage booster on a floating ship out in the Atlantic Ocean. The last two drone ship landings have been successful.

Then, SpaceX will launch a Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station on July 16.


SpaceX will attempt to launch this THAICOM-8 communications satellite Thursday afternoon, May 26, 2016. (SpaceX)