Technical glitch delays NASA-SpaceX launch of next space station crew

Technical glitch delays NASA-SpaceX launch of next space station crew

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.: NASA and SpaceX postponed the launch of the next long-duration crew to the International Space Station early on Monday, minutes before the rocket was due to lift off, citing a problem with ground systems used to monitor the flow of an engine-ignition fluid.

Members of the four-man crew - two U.S. astronauts, a Russian cosmonaut and an astronaut from the United Arab Emirates - have since exited the spacecraft and returned to their quarters to await word on when the next launch attempt will be made, the U.S. space agency said.

The countdown had seemed to be progressing smoothly until about 2-1/2 minutes before launch time, when NASA and SpaceX, the rocket company founded by billionaire Elon Musk, announced during NASA's live webcast that the flight was being scrubbed for the day.

NASA said engineers decided they needed to investigate "an issue preventing data from confirming" the proper loading of a liquid chemical called TEA-TEB used to ignite the first-stage rocket engines for launch.

Mission managers have already opted to forgo the next launch opportunity early on Tuesday, due to an unfavorable weather forecast, NASA said.

Instead, NASA and SpaceX are looking to a possible launch window at 12:34 a.m. EST (0534