<p>SpaceX's historic launch to International Space Station was postponed due to the bad weather. The decision was taken 20 minutes before the launch. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasa-and-spacex-brace-themselves-for-a-historic-launch-301086">NASA and SpaceX brace themselves for a historic launch!</a></p>

<p>The NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley were strapped in their Crew Dragon capsule and the launchpad platform retracted and rocket fueling underway when launch director Mike Taylor announced, "Unfortunately, we are not going to launch today."&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to officials, lightning and other factors were the reasons for the cancelled launch.&nbsp;</p>

<p>SpaceX will try to re-launch Falcon 9 on Saturday. If they get successful they not only launch the first crewed mission from US soil in almost a decade but also become the privately-owned company to achieve this feat.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, the manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, Kathy Lueders, mission team concluded the launch readiness review for the upcoming mission.</p>

<p>US President Donald Trump, who had come to witness the launch, had to head back to the White House after the launch was called off.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The rocket was set to be launched on &nbsp;4:33 pm (2033 GMT) from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A. Neil Armstrong and his Apollo 11 crewmates lifted off from the same spot on their historic journey to the Moon.</p>

<p>The mission is taking place amid coronavirus pandemic so the crew has been quarantined for the past two weeks.&nbsp;</p>


SpaceX's historic launch to International Space Station was postponed due to the bad weather. The decision was taken 20 minutes before the launch. Also read: NASA and SpaceX brace themselves for a historic launch!

SpaceX's historic launch to International Space Station was postponed due to the bad weather. The decision was taken 20 minutes before the launch. Also read: NASA and SpaceX brace themselves for a historic launch! The NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley were strapped in their Crew Dragon capsule and the launchpad platform retracted and rocket fueling underway when launch director Mike Taylor announced, "Unfortunately, we are not going to launch today." According to officials, lightning and other factors were the reasons for the cancelled launch. SpaceX will try to re-launch Falcon 9 on Saturday. If they get successful they not only launch the first crewed mission from US soil in almost a decade but also become the privately-owned company to achieve this feat. Earlier, the manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, Kathy Lueders, mission team concluded the launch readiness review for the upcoming mission. US President Donald Trump, who had come to witness the launch, had to head back to the White House after the launch was called off. The rocket was set to be launched on 4:33 pm (2033 GMT) from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A. Neil Armstrong and his Apollo 11 crewmates lifted off from the same spot on their historic journey to the Moon. The mission is taking place amid coronavirus pandemic so the crew has been quarantined for the past two weeks.

SpaceX's crewed mission postponed as historic launch hit by bad weather

<p>Elon Musk, the man behind Tesla, SpaceX and PayPal has many plans.</p>

<p>Musk said in May this year that SpaceX would launch more orbital missions in 2018 than any nation on earth.</p>

<p>While his rocket company couldn't achieve that as China launched at least 35 rockets, Musk launched the Falcon heavy rocket, the world's most powerful operational launch vehicle which sent ripples through the industry. The rocket carried a spacesuit-clad dummy called Starman towards Mars orbit inside a red Tesla Roadster car.</p>

<p>But Musk likes to surprise, shock and stay in the news.</p>

<p>Earlier this year, he shocked the world by calling one of the Thai cave rescuers a paedophile. The tweet led Musk being slapped with a lawsuit. In August, he tweeted that he was taking Tesla private and that he had secured funds to do the same. But soon, it became clear that Musk had neither secured the funding nor had the regulatory approvals for it.</p>

<p>A month later, the Securities and Exchange Commission of US filed a lawsuit against him, leading Musk to pay a fine of $20 million and losing the chairmanship to his company. Musk's compulsive tweeting and erratic behaviour, which included smoking marijuana during a video interview, has raised concerns about his leadership, with several Wall Street analysts and some investors urging Tesla to appoint a strong second-in-command.</p>

<p>Then, in an interview with 60 Minutes recently, Musk said he does not respect the Securities and Exchange Commission.</p>

<p>But despite Musk's frequent firing sprees and difficult relationship with his employees, production delays and social media debacles, Tesla has managed to become a success story. Musk shut his critics when Tesla reported a net profit, positive cash flow and wider-than-expected margins in the third quarter, delivering on his promise to turn the electric carmaker profitable as higher production volumes of its new Model 3 began to pay off.</p>

<p>By the end of the year, Musk, despite his controversies, launched the SmallSat Express mission. With this single launch, SpaceX delivered 64 small satellites into orbit. Three of those satellites will track covert shipping, fishing, piracy, and other illegal activities on the ocean from space.</p>

<p>The mission, dubbed SSO-A, also marked the third voyage to space for the same Falcon 9 rocket - another milestone for SpaceX's cost-cutting reusable rocket technology.</p>

<p>And now, he has his eyes set on exploring the depths of space. He recently said that the next goal in space exploration is colonising "heavenly bodies" such as the Moon or "Mars and beyond".</p>


Elon Musk, the man behind Tesla, SpaceX and PayPal has many plans. Musk said in May this year that SpaceX would launch more orbital missions in 2018 than any nation on earth.

Elon Musk, the man behind Tesla, SpaceX and PayPal has many plans. Musk said in May this year that SpaceX would launch more orbital missions in 2018 than any nation on earth. While his rocket company couldn't achieve that as China launched at least 35 rockets, Musk launched the Falcon heavy rocket, the world's most powerful operational launch vehicle which sent ripples through the industry. The rocket carried a spacesuit-clad dummy called Starman towards Mars orbit inside a red Tesla Roadster car. But Musk likes to surprise, shock and stay in the news. Earlier this year, he shocked the world by calling one of the Thai cave rescuers a paedophile. The tweet led Musk being slapped with a lawsuit. In August, he tweeted that he was taking Tesla private and that he had secured funds to do the same. But soon, it became clear that Musk had neither secured the funding nor had the regulatory approvals for it. A month later, the Securities and Exchange Commission of US filed a lawsuit against him, leading Musk to pay a fine of $20 million and losing the chairmanship to his company. Musk's compulsive tweeting and erratic behaviour, which included smoking marijuana during a video interview, has raised concerns about his leadership, with several Wall Street analysts and some investors urging Tesla to appoint a strong second-in-command. Then, in an interview with 60 Minutes recently, Musk said he does not respect the Securities and Exchange Commission. But despite Musk's frequent firing sprees and difficult relationship with his employees, production delays and social media debacles, Tesla has managed to become a success story. Musk shut his critics when Tesla reported a net profit, positive cash flow and wider-than-expected margins in the third quarter, delivering on his promise to turn the electric carmaker profitable as higher production volumes of its new Model 3 began to pay off. By the end of the year, Musk, despite his controversies, launched the SmallSat Express mission. With this single launch, SpaceX delivered 64 small satellites into orbit. Three of those satellites will track covert shipping, fishing, piracy, and other illegal activities on the ocean from space. The mission, dubbed SSO-A, also marked the third voyage to space for the same Falcon 9 rocket - another milestone for SpaceX's cost-cutting reusable rocket technology. And now, he has his eyes set on exploring the depths of space. He recently said that the next goal in space exploration is colonising "heavenly bodies" such as the Moon or "Mars and beyond".

Elon Musk and his social media debacles in 2018

<p>SpaceX on Friday blasted off its newest and most powerful Falcon 9 rocket, known as the Block 5, carrying the first high-orbit communications satellite for Bangladesh and marking a leap forward in re-usability for the California-based aerospace company.<br />
<br />
The rocket is designed to require far less maintenance and refurbishment between flights, and is certified to carry humans to space later this year when SpaceX launches its Dragon crew capsule to the International Space Station.<br />
<br />
"Three, two one, zero, ignition, liftoff," a SpaceX commentator said as the rocket launched at 4:14 pm (2014 GMT) from Cape Canaveral, Florida.<br />
<br />
The Block 5 Falcon 9 rocket's main goal for its maiden mission was to propel a communications satellite for Bangladesh, called Bangabandhu Satellite-1, to a geostationary transfer orbit roughly 22,000 miles (35,000 kilometers) above Earth.<br />
<br />
"In the continuous advancement of Bangladesh another milestone is added today," said Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a video address aired on SpaceX's launch webcast.<br />
<br />
"With the launch of Bangabandhu-1, we are hoisting our national flag into space."</p>

<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="1" id="google_ads_iframe_/1068322/NDTV_News_ROS_Native_Outstream_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="google_ads_iframe_/1068322/NDTV_News_ROS_Native_Outstream_0" scrolling="no" srcdoc="" title="3rd party ad content" width="1"></iframe>The satellite will offer video and communications coverage over Bangladesh and its territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal, as well as in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Indonesia.<br />
<br />
"The satellite will also provide broadband connectivity to rural areas throughout the country," said a SpaceX statement, noting that the mission is expected to last at least 15 years.<br />
<br />
About a half hour after launch, live images showed the satellite drifting into the inky blackness of space, as cheers and screams erupted at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California.<br />
<br />
"Successful deployment of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 to geostationary transfer orbit," SpaceX said on Twitter.</p>

<p>The launch was&nbsppostponed at the last minute Thursday, when an automatic abort switch was triggered, but SpaceX said it was just a glitch and the spacecraft remained in good health.<br />
<br />
The rocket is built to re-fly up to 10 times with minimal refurbishment, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk told reporters ahead of the launch.<br />
<br />
"We expect there would be literally no action taken between flights, so just like aircraft," Musk said, describing the many years of effort that went into the rocket as "crazy hard."<br />
<br />
After liftoff, the rocket made a successful upright landing on the "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, marking the 25th successful touchdown for SpaceX.<br />
<br />
SpaceX has now landed 11 of its boosters on land and 14 on its droneships, which are floating platforms in the ocean, as part of its effort to bring down the cost of spaceflight and re-use costly rocket parts.<br />
<br />
The first crew launch for SpaceX is tentatively planned for December 2018.&nbsp</p>

<p>It will mark the first time since the end of the US space shuttle program in 2011 that a rocket has left US soil carrying people to space.</p>


The rocket is designed to require far less maintenance and refurbishment between flights, and is certified to carry humans to space later this year when SpaceX launches its Dragon crew capsule to the International Space Station.

SpaceX on Friday blasted off its newest and most powerful Falcon 9 rocket, known as the Block 5, carrying the first high-orbit communications satellite for Bangladesh and marking a leap forward in re-usability for the California-based aerospace company. The rocket is designed to require far less maintenance and refurbishment between flights, and is certified to carry humans to space later this year when SpaceX launches its Dragon crew capsule to the International Space Station. "Three, two one, zero, ignition, liftoff," a SpaceX commentator said as the rocket launched at 4:14 pm (2014 GMT) from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Block 5 Falcon 9 rocket's main goal for its maiden mission was to propel a communications satellite for Bangladesh, called Bangabandhu Satellite-1, to a geostationary transfer orbit roughly 22,000 miles (35,000 kilometers) above Earth. "In the continuous advancement of Bangladesh another milestone is added today," said Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a video address aired on SpaceX's launch webcast. "With the launch of Bangabandhu-1, we are hoisting our national flag into space." The satellite will offer video and communications coverage over Bangladesh and its territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal, as well as in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Indonesia. "The satellite will also provide broadband connectivity to rural areas throughout the country," said a SpaceX statement, noting that the mission is expected to last at least 15 years. About a half hour after launch, live images showed the satellite drifting into the inky blackness of space, as cheers and screams erupted at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California. "Successful deployment of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 to geostationary transfer orbit," SpaceX said on Twitter. The launch was&nbsppostponed at the last minute Thursday, when an automatic abort switch was triggered, but SpaceX said it was just a glitch and the spacecraft remained in good health. The rocket is built to re-fly up to 10 times with minimal refurbishment, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk told reporters ahead of the launch. "We expect there would be literally no action taken between flights, so just like aircraft," Musk said, describing the many years of effort that went into the rocket as "crazy hard." After liftoff, the rocket made a successful upright landing on the "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, marking the 25th successful touchdown for SpaceX. SpaceX has now landed 11 of its boosters on land and 14 on its droneships, which are floating platforms in the ocean, as part of its effort to bring down the cost of spaceflight and re-use costly rocket parts. The first crew launch for SpaceX is tentatively planned for December 2018. It will mark the first time since the end of the US space shuttle program in 2011 that a rocket has left US soil carrying people to space.

SpaceX launches most powerful Falcon 9 yet

<p>Photos and videos have been making rounds on social media showing a streak of light appearing in the sky over Los Angeles as SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 rocket into earth&#39;s orbit.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What is this in the sky? <a href="https://t.co/pjcp2MlH4v">pic.twitter.com/pjcp2MlH4v</a></p>
&mdash; will.i.am (@iamwill) <a href="https://twitter.com/iamwill/status/944382218394255361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<p>Space X founder Elon Musk almost started the speculation after he joked&nbsp;on Twitter saying: &quot;Nuclear alien UFO from North Korea.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>It created a social media storm as the Twitterati began magnifying the picture sent out by Musk.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Nuclear alien UFO from North Korea <a href="https://t.co/GUIHpKkkp5">pic.twitter.com/GUIHpKkkp5</a></p>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/944399853316055040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">All of LA <a href="https://t.co/QPVVEJ2Ru5">pic.twitter.com/QPVVEJ2Ru5</a></p>
&mdash; Isco (@isco__) <a href="https://twitter.com/isco__/status/944400084237565952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Big thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> for the hilarious alien debate that ensued between my family once we saw your rocket in the sky tonight</p>
&mdash; Max Power (@CristatoLive) <a href="https://twitter.com/CristatoLive/status/944381404158111745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I will pretend this is a UFO and not a rocket launch. THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpaceX</a> <a href="https://t.co/H3tHypzRxa">pic.twitter.com/H3tHypzRxa</a></p>
&mdash; marisa (@PsychoMarisa) <a href="https://twitter.com/PsychoMarisa/status/944382898546675713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Wtf is flying through the sky in Hollywood <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/aliens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#aliens</a> <a href="https://t.co/mC693ELEZx">pic.twitter.com/mC693ELEZx</a></p>
&mdash; Hunter Hill (@h2balla) <a href="https://twitter.com/h2balla/status/944380393725112320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">My guy <a href="https://twitter.com/Andy_Fenelon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Andy_Fenelon</a> shot this video tonight in Santa Clarita, CA. Anyone else see it? Anyone know what it is? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ufo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ufo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ufosighting?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ufosighting</a> <a href="https://t.co/mQGz6kEdmn">pic.twitter.com/mQGz6kEdmn</a></p>
&mdash; Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gil_Brandt/status/944383989627756544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">so I just saw a UFO outside my house???? <a href="https://t.co/4MNNdB9Qxq">pic.twitter.com/4MNNdB9Qxq</a></p>
&mdash; Neels Visser (@neelsvisser) <a href="https://twitter.com/neelsvisser/status/944385661477404673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Any idea what this is? Saw it over LA, near Highland Park rn <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AreWeAlone?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AreWeAlone</a> <a href="https://t.co/HdIAz2P81v">pic.twitter.com/HdIAz2P81v</a></p>
&mdash; Roberto A Guizar (@Dqrobby86) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dqrobby86/status/944385473018920960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


Photos and videos were making rounds on social media on Friday showing a streak of light appearing in the sky in Los Angeles

Photos and videos have been making rounds on social media showing a streak of light appearing in the sky over Los Angeles as SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 rocket into earth's orbit. What is this in the sky? pic.twitter.com/pjcp2MlH4v — will.i.am (@iamwill) December 23, 2017 × Space X founder Elon Musk almost started the speculation after he joked on Twitter saying: "Nuclear alien UFO from North Korea." It created a social media storm as the Twitterati began magnifying the picture sent out by Musk. Nuclear alien UFO from North Korea pic.twitter.com/GUIHpKkkp5 — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 23, 2017 × All of LA pic.twitter.com/QPVVEJ2Ru5 — Isco (@isco__) December 23, 2017 × Big thanks to @elonmusk and @SpaceX for the hilarious alien debate that ensued between my family once we saw your rocket in the sky tonight — Max Power (@CristatoLive) December 23, 2017 × I will pretend this is a UFO and not a rocket launch. THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE. #SpaceX pic.twitter.com/H3tHypzRxa — marisa (@PsychoMarisa) December 23, 2017 × Wtf is flying through the sky in Hollywood #aliens pic.twitter.com/mC693ELEZx — Hunter Hill (@h2balla) December 23, 2017 × My guy @Andy_Fenelon shot this video tonight in Santa Clarita, CA. Anyone else see it? Anyone know what it is? #ufo #ufosighting pic.twitter.com/mQGz6kEdmn — Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) December 23, 2017 × so I just saw a UFO outside my house???? pic.twitter.com/4MNNdB9Qxq — Neels Visser (@neelsvisser) December 23, 2017 × Any idea what this is? Saw it over LA, near Highland Park rn #UFO #AreWeAlone pic.twitter.com/HdIAz2P81v — Roberto A Guizar (@Dqrobby86) December 23, 2017 ×

UFO spotted during SpaceX Falcon 9 launch? Twitterati goes berserk

<p>SpaceX blasted off its Falcon 9 rocket on Saturday, marking its first return to flight since a costly and complicated launchpad explosion in September.</p>

<p>&quot;Liftoff of the Falcon 9,&quot; a SpaceX commentator said as the tall white rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:54 am (1754 GMT), carrying a payload of 10 satellites for Iridium, a mobile and data communications company.</p>

<p>The satellites are the first in a series of launches planned to upgrade Iridium&#39;s global communications network.</p>

<p>The $3 billion project aims to send 81 satellites to low-Earth orbit in coming months.</p>

<p>Following launch, SpaceX landed the tall portion of the rocket, known as the first stage, on a platform in the Pacific Ocean.</p>

<p>The platform, or droneship, was labeled &quot;Just Read the Instructions.&quot;</p>

<p>Cheers erupted at SpaceX mission control in Hawthorne, California, as a live video showed the rocket touch down successfully, and remain upright.</p>

<p>&quot;This is fantastic,&quot; a SpaceX spokeswoman said.</p>

<p>(AFP)</p>


The satellites are the first in a series of launches planned to upgrade Iridium's global communications network

SpaceX blasted off its Falcon 9 rocket on Saturday, marking its first return to flight since a costly and complicated launchpad explosion in September. "Liftoff of the Falcon 9," a SpaceX commentator said as the tall white rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:54 am (1754 GMT), carrying a payload of 10 satellites for Iridium, a mobile and data communications company. The satellites are the first in a series of launches planned to upgrade Iridium's global communications network. The $3 billion project aims to send 81 satellites to low-Earth orbit in coming months. Following launch, SpaceX landed the tall portion of the rocket, known as the first stage, on a platform in the Pacific Ocean. The platform, or droneship, was labeled "Just Read the Instructions." Cheers erupted at SpaceX mission control in Hawthorne, California, as a live video showed the rocket touch down successfully, and remain upright. "This is fantastic," a SpaceX spokeswoman said. (AFP)

SpaceX launches, lands first Falcon 9 rocket since Sept blast

<p>SpaceX&#39;s Falcon 9 rocket&nbsp;exploded at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, multiple media reports said.<br />
<br />
It remains unclear at the moment whether there have been casualties. But the intensity of the explosion rocked buildings &quot;several miles away&quot;, according to The Verge.<br />
<br />
Emergency services&nbsp;have however said there is no threat to the public.<br />
<br />
Although the cause of the blast remains unknown, NASA officials said it occurred during a static fire test of the rocket&#39;s engines.<br />
<br />
SpaceX, a company owned by Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, intends to send people to Mars within the next two decades.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
(WION with inputs from agencies)<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The intensity of the blast shook buildings "several miles away"

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket exploded at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, multiple media reports said. It remains unclear at the moment whether there have been casualties. But the intensity of the explosion rocked buildings "several miles away", according to The Verge. Emergency services have however said there is no threat to the public. Although the cause of the blast remains unknown, NASA officials said it occurred during a static fire test of the rocket's engines. SpaceX, a company owned by Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, intends to send people to Mars within the next two decades. (WION with inputs from agencies)

SpaceX rocket explosion rocks Kennedy Space Centre

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