SpaceX

Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has aborted its second attempt in a row to launch a SES-9 commercial communications satellite aboard its Falcon 9 rocket due to a fuelling issue.

The launch was cancelled on Thursday less than two minutes before lift-off from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, US.

The team, which was supervising the final loading of super-cold liquid oxygen propellant into Falcon 9’s first and second stages, stopped the countdown of the launch midway, reported Reuters.

The news agency reported SpaceX commentator John Insprucker saying: "Preliminary (information) is that we were looking at how much time we had left in the count to finish loading the liquid oxygen, and at that time the launch team decided that we would need to hold the countdown."

"The launch was cancelled on Thursday less than two minutes before lift-off from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, US."

The company has not given new dates for the launch.

SpaceX aborted the launch for the same mission on Wednesday to provide more time to cool liquid oxygen required by the upgraded 230ft rocket.

The company stated when the temperature is at low or near freezing point, the density of the fuel increases, which gives the rocket added thrust.

The commercial communication satellite weighs 5,721kg.

Image: The launch of SES-9 commercial communications satellite has been cancelled for the second time. Photo: courtesy of SES.