NEWS SPECIAL REPORT.
NEWS SPECIAL REPORT.
HERE’S LESTER HOLT.
>>> WE’RE COMING ON THE AIR WITH
BREAKING NEWS.
THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED LAUNCH OF
THE SPACEX LAUNCH HAS JUST BEEN
SCRUBBED, POSTPONED DUE TO IN
CLIMATE WEATHER.
LIFTOFF HAD BEEN SCHEDULED FOR
4:33 EASTERN TIME.
STORM CLOUDS AND LIGHTNING IN
THE AREA HAS FORCED A DELAY.
THE LAUNCH EXPECTED TO TAKE
PLACE SATURDAY.
TOM COSTELLO HAS THE LATEST.
TOM?
>> Reporter: WELL, THIS JUST
HAPPENED WITHIN THE PAST 90
SECONDS.
WE WERE WITHIN 17 MINUTES OF LIFTING OFF OF LAUNCH PAD 39A
LIFTING OFF OF LAUNCH PAD 39A
THAT HAS SENT ASSISTTROASTRONAUT
SPACE.
THE WEATHER HAS BEEN DICEY AND
WE’VE BEEN DEALING WITH HIGH
WIND, RAIN, THUNDER AND
LIGHTNING.
IT WAS LIGHTNING OFF TO MY LEFT
THAT WAS PROBABLY THE DEFINING
MOMENT.
THEY CANNOT VIOLATE THESE
WEATHER CRITERIA BECAUSE YOU’RE
OPENING YOURSELF UP TO ANY
NUMBER OF PROBLEMS AS THE ROCKET
IS LIFTING OFF AND HEADED FOR
THE SPACE STATION.
OUT THERE ON LAUNCH PAD 39A THE
ASTRONAUTS ARE STILL STRAPPED IN
AND GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF
TAKING THE FUEL OFF OF THE
ROCKET.
THAT’S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME
TO DO THAT SAFELY.
THEN EVENTUALLY THEY’LL TAKE
BOTH THE ASTRONAUTS OFF THE
ROCKET.
THAT MEANS THE NEXT ATTEMPT IS
GOING TO BE ON SATURDAY AND THEN
SUNDAY.
INTERESTINGLY THE LAUNCH
DIRECTOR SAID IF WE COULD HAVE
TEN MORE MINUTES WE MIGHT BE
ABLE TO WAIT THIS OUT.
THE TROUBLE IS THEY HAVE A VERY,
VERY TIGHT WINDOW.
THEY HAVE TO LAUNCH AT EXACTLY
THAT SECOND SO THEY CAN
INTERSECT AND HEAD RIGHT UP TO
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
THEY HOPED TO HIT THAT AT 11:30
A.M. TOMORROW EASTERN TIME.
THIS COMES AS PRESIDENT TRUMP
PULLED IN TO WATCH THIS LIFTOFF.
VICE PRESIDENT PENCE IS ALSO
HERE.
A DISAPPOINTING DAY.
YOU CAN ALMOST PREDICT IT
THOUGH, LESTER, BECAUSE WE’VE
BEEN DEALING WITH VOLATILE
WEATHER ALL DAY AND WE’RE
PROBABLY IN THE BEST WEATHER
WE’VE HAD ALL DAY.
