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12:33pm UK, Saturday May 19, 2012
Space Exploration Technologies Corp, also known as SpaceX, had been hoping to be the first private company to fly a spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS).
But the Cape Canaveral launch of its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule was aborted in the final seconds before lift-off due to technical problems.
A Nasa spokesman said the engine ignition sequence started, but there was an automatic shutdown by on-board computers.
The announcer counted down to lift-off but his voice faultered at the crucial moment.
Sounding puzzled, he said: "Five, four, three, two, one and... lift... off... we've had a cut-off. Lift-off did not occur."
As the moment passed, the rocket remained on its launch pad amid a cloud of engine exhaust.
The next attempt will happen on Tuesday, if the problem can be resolved in time.
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Private Space Flight Lift-Off 'Aborted'
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