Launch of SpaceX Falcon 9 aborted, NASA says

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft stands ready for launch from complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Jan. 5, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

The launch of a Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) Falcon 9 rocket was aborted at the last minute Tuesday due to technical problems, NASA said.

The rocket, carrying a Dragon cargo ship for the International Space Station (ISS), was supposed to blast off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 6:20 a.m. EST (1120 GMT), but the launch was called off with less than minutes left in the countdown, NASA said in a statement.

"A thrust vector control actuator for the Falcon 9's second stage failed to perform as expected, resulting in a launch abort," it said.

The California-based private company is evaluating the issue and will determine the next opportunity to launch the company's fifth commercial resupply services mission to the ISS, the statement said.

The next opportunity for launch is at 5:09 a.m. EST (1009 GMT) on Friday, according to the statement.

This will be the fifth of 12 SpaceX flights that NASA has contracted with the company under the terms of a 1.6-billion-US- Dollar contract to replenish equipment and gear at the orbiting outpost. The Dragon cargo capsule is loaded with more than 5,100 pounds (2,313 kg) of food, supplies and equipment.