SpaceX delays rocket launch again

Elon Musk's SpaceX pushed a satellite launch back a day to Monday, Pacific standard time, after saying more inspections were needed on the Falcon 9 rocket.

The company announced the third rescheduling on Twitter less than 12 hours before launch at the Vandendberg Air Force Base in California. 

SpaceX said it needed to “conduct additional inspections of the second stage”.

The Spaceflight SSO-A: SmallSat Express mission involves SpaceX putting 71 small satellites into orbit, including two art exhibits.

The single-engine second stage of the Falcon 9 ignites once it has left Earth and can reignite several times, allowing it drop off payloads is several areas on the same flight.

Falcon 9 is SpaceX’s smaller reusable rocket and has successfully delivered supplies to the International Space Station before landing back on Earth. 

For commercial customers, a Falcon 9 launch costs US$62m (£48.5m).

The first launch date, 19 November, was abandoned for “additional pre-flight inspections” and the second, November 28, was abandoned due to extreme high-altitude winds.