SpaceX launch live blog: Latest updates as Falcon 9 rocket set to explode

Elon Musk says dramatic abort test will see Falcon 9 rocket 'destroyed in Dragon fire'

SpaceX rocket explodes mid-flight in astronaut 'abort test'

SpaceX has launched and exploded a 500-tonne rocket in mid-air as part of the last major safety test before sending astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).

The In-Flight Abort Test saw the Falcon 9 rocket experience a planned "rapid, unscheduled disassembly" shortly after take-off.

The launch was originally planned for Saturday but was postponed until Sunday due to adverse weather conditions.

Sunday's launch was delayed three separate times but a six-hour launch window allowed it to eventually lift-off at 10.30am ET (3.30pm GMT).

Please allow a moment for the liveblog to load.

Key Points

• Why is SpaceX blowing up a rocket in mid-air?
• Falcon 9 rocket explodes over the Atlantic Ocean

[19 January 2020 11:00 · anthony.cuthbertson]

More than 50 years after Nasa sent astronauts to the moon, SpaceX is about to use the same Florida launch site to send its own crew capsule skywards.

No astronauts will be on board the Crew Dragon spacecraft, however, as shortly after it takes off from Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, the Falcon 9 rocket carrying it will explode.

That is if everything goes to plan for the "In-Flight Abort Test", designed to prove that SpaceX is able to keep astronauts safe in the event of catastrophic failure.

Lift-off is planned for 8am ET (1pm GMT), with the Falcon 9 set to get torn apart during its descent shortly after.

If successful, a major milestone towards SpaceX's ambition of taking astronauts into space will be achieved. 

[19 January 2020 11:27 · anthony.cuthbertson]

SpaceX had to stand down from an attempted launch on Saturday due to bad weather in the Atlantic, where a dedicated recovery team are in place to gather up debris from the explosion.

For today's launch, Nasa says there is a 60 per cent chance of favourable weather, with the primary concern being a thick cloud layer. 

[19 January 2020 11:50 · anthony.cuthbertson]

There's been a delay. New launch time scheduled for 9am ET (2pm GMT), Nasa Administrator Jim Bridenstine says.

[19 January 2020 12:00 · anthony.cuthbertson]

The new launch schedule will therefore look something like this:

• 8.40am ET (1.40pm GMT) - Nasa live stream of launch begins
• 9am - Launch of In-Flight Abort Test
• 9.10-9.30am - Falcon 9 rocket explosion
• 10.30am - Post-test news conference

[19 January 2020 12:23 · anthony.cuthbertson]

Another delay!

[19 January 2020 12:25 · anthony.cuthbertson]

SpaceX says the launch had to be pushed back by an hour "to optimise for decreasing winds in the recovery area".

[19 January 2020 12:51 · anthony.cuthbertson]

This is what the updated launch schedule looks like:

• 9.40am ET (2.40pm GMT) - Nasa live stream of launch begins
• 10am - Launch of In-Flight Abort Test
• 10.10-9.30am - Falcon 9 rocket explosion
• 11.30am - Post-test news conference

[19 January 2020 12:57 · anthony.cuthbertson]

Both Nasa and SpaceX are live streaming today's launch, with both feeds going online around 15-20 minutes before the launch.

We'll have both links here as soon as they are live.

[19 January 2020 13:03 · anthony.cuthbertson]

This is what the launch site looked like earlier this morning (note the launch time is now 10am ET)

[19 January 2020 13:18 · anthony.cuthbertson]

The six-hour launch window means there is room for a couple of more delays if needed. 

Hopefully not, but it all depends on the weather.

The fact today's launch was delayed slightly, rather than postponed entirely like yesterday's attempt, is promising.