SCRUB

SpaceX Aborts Launch Just Before Liftoff

Over challenges with keeping liquid oxygen cold.

SpaceX aborted its third attempt at a rocket launch just seconds before liftoff at Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Sunday. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted later that the scrub occurred after the rocket’s internal computer kicked in and aborted the launch because the supply of liquid oxygen was not at cold enough temperatures. Earlier in the evening, a boat strayed too close to the danger zone and the launch was temporarily paused to let it vacate. Though the rocket was still expecting lift off, the launch team didn’t realize the fuel had warmed up by the time the rocket was ready to go, which then triggered the rocket’s internal computer to abort the launch. Despite the scrub, SpaceX reported that its Falcon 9 rocket is still healthy.