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SpaceX aborts launch from NASA's historic moon pad

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX was all set to launch a rocket from NASA's historic moon pad before the company aborted the launch with 13 seconds left in the countdown sequence.

As the sun rose Saturday over Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the unmanned Falcon rocket stood at Launch Complex 39A, ready to soar. Liftoff is scheduled for 10:01 a.m.

The launch was aborted due to a possible issue with the thrust vector control systems.

According to NASA commentators, the launch would be scrubbed for 24 hours and a briefing would be issued at noon Saturday.

SpaceX is sending up a load of space station supplies from the exact spot where Americans flew to the moon almost a half-century ago. The pad was last used in 2011 for NASA's final space shuttle flight.

This is SpaceX's first launch from Florida since a rocket explosion Sept. 1. The accident during prelaunch testing heavily damaged that pad. SpaceX turned to Launch Complex 39A - which it leases from NASA - to resume flights. The company hopes to launch astronauts from 39A next year.

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