SpaceX postpones overnight Falcon 9 rocket launch for Japanese moon mission for second time

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — Update #2: SpaceX crews said late Wednesday they are standing down again on the overnight launch set for 3:37 a.m.

The postponement of ispace’s HAKUTO-R Mission 1 comes after further inspections of the launch vehicle and data review.

A new target launch date has not yet been announced.

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Update: SpaceX announced late Tuesday evening it was standing down on ispace’s HAKUTO-R Mission 1 to allow for additional preflight checkouts.

The new targeted launch date is Thursday at 3:37 a.m.

Read our previous story below:

SpaceX is planning an early morning Falcon 9 launch on Wednesday.

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SpaceX also plans to land the rocket’s first-stage booster back on the ground at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

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The rocket landing on the Space Coast will mean a sonic boom may be heard by people in the area.

The Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Hakuto-R mission.

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It’s the first privately-led Japanese mission to land on the moon.

Launch time is scheduled for 3:39 a.m. Wednesday.

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Channel 9 will have live coverage of the launch on Eyewitness News.

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