Billionaire Elon Musk to attempt fresh Space X rocket launch in US national security mission
Space X chief Elon Musk's Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to attempt to launch again this afternoon, after two previously-scheduled launches this week were cancelled due to last-minute technical issues.
The rocket is set to carry a satellite worth roughly $500m (£393.7m) built by Lockheed Martin up to space, taking off from Florida at around 2pm GMT.
However weather is already thought to be posing a challenge to the launch, with only a 20 per cent chance of favourable conditions because of severe thunderstorms and wind gusts in the area, according to a US meteorologist.
Team is working toward launch of GPS III SV01 tomorrow, December 20. Weather remains a challenge; currently forecasted at 20% favorable during the 26-minute launch window which opens at 9:03 a.m. EST, 14:03 UTC.
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 20, 2018
The launch is supposed to mark Space X's first so-called National Security Space mission, as defined by the US military. It won an $83m contract from the US air force in 2016 to launch the satellite, which will have a life span of approximately 15 years.
If it goes ahead, the day will be a significant success for Musk. Space X has been attempting to crack into the space defence market, dominated by Boeing and Lockheed Martin's joint venture United Launch Alliance, for several years.
The GPS satellite is the first of 32 satellites in production by Lockheed. Once fully operation, an Air Force spokesperson told Reuters that the fleet of satellites with be three times more accurate than existing technology.
The next satellite is scheduled for launch in mid-2019.