SpaceX aborts Thanksgiving launch

SpaceX aborted the launching of a commercial communications satellite into orbit from Cape Canaveral just after sunset Thursday.

As of early Wednesday afternoon, preparations had continued to launch a 224-foot Falcon 9 rocket carrying the SES-8 satellite at 5:39 p.m. Thursday, the opening of a window that extended to 6:44 p.m., Local 6 news partner Florida Today reports.

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There was an 80 percent chance of favorable weather conditions at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 40.

A Thursday launch would be the first from the Cape on Thanksgiving since 1959, according to Spaceflight Now.

The mission is SpaceX's first flight from Florida of a taller, more powerful version of the Falcon 9, and the company's first launch of a commercial payload into an orbit more than 22,000 miles above the equator.

A first launch attempt on Monday scrubbed due to a series of technical problems.

Thursday evening, the launch was aborted, but details were not provided.

Watch Local 6 News and stay with ClickOrlando.com for updates on this story.


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