The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket purges fuel after topping off as it prepares to launch, before the launch was called off owing to weather. The next launch window is set for Saturday afternoon (local time), when SpaceX will make a second attempt to send the astronauts into orbit aboard the company's newly designed Dragon Crew capsule. Since then, NASA astronauts have had to hitch rides into orbit aboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft. For Musk, the first manned SpaceX launch would represent another milestone for the reusable rockets his company pioneered to make spaceflight less costly and frequent. NASA has awarded nearly $8 billion combined to SpaceX and Boeing Co for development of rival space launch systems.

Source: Otago Daily Times May 27, 2020 22:41 UTC