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Rocket Lab Saturday morning (May 4) canceled the launch of three experimental satellites for the US Air Force to conduct additional payload checks.
The takeoff of the Rocket Lab Electron Booster was to take place from the company's launch site in New Zealand during a four-hour window open at 2:00 am EDT (6:00 GMT) Saturday.
The next launch opportunity available is Sunday, May 5, at the same hours as above, representatives of the company said.
Related: In photos: Rocket Lab and its electron thruster
Leave the launch today to perform additional checks of the payload. The next launch opportunity is no earlier than 06:00 UTC / 18:00 NZT, May 5th. Stay tuned for updates!May 4, 2019
The mission, known as STP-27RD, will deliver two satellites and a larger satellite, all Earth-orbit research and development devices for the Air Force space test program.
You can learn more about each satellite and the STP-27RD mission by reading our introductory article here. The mission, titled "This is a funny cactus", is the second electronic launch of Rocket Lab in 2019 and the fifth orbital launch of the small satellite launch vehicle as a whole.
Mike Wall's book on the search for extraterrestrial life, "Over there"(Grand Central Publishing, 2018, illustrated by Karl Tate), is out now. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall. Follow us on twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook.
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