SpaceX launch bumped to Tuesday after aborted flight

Engine problem cancelled 1st attempt by private firm to launch rocket

The Associated Press

Posted: May 21, 2012 8:07 PM ET

Last Updated: May 21, 2012 7:32 PM ET

This framegrab from NASA-TV shows the Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket on the launch pad at complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station seconds after the launch was aborted. (NASA/Associated Press)

Private rocket maker SpaceX is shooting for a Tuesday liftoff after fixing the engine problem that led to a launch abort over the weekend.

The U.S. company is the first private business to attempt to launch a spacecraft with supplies to the International Space Station.

The new launch time for the historic flight is 3:44 a.m. ET. Forecasters say there's an 80 per cent chance the weather in Cape Canaveral will co-operate.

All nine engines on the Falcon 9 rocket ignited during the first launch attempt Saturday. But with just a half-second remaining before liftoff, on-board computers shut everything down.

The problem was traced to a faulty engine valve. Engineers put in a new valve and declared the rocket ready to fly.

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