SpaceX delays first astronaut launch

SpaceX’s first manned launch scheduled for Wednesday was delayed after a storm hit with just 17 minutes left on the countdown.

SpaceX, owned by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, is attempting to become the first to take astronauts to the International Space Station on a privately owned and operated spaceship.

A storm system off the coast of Florida failed to clear in time for the scheduled late-afternoon launch so the company was forced to postpone the mission until Saturday.

The launch would have marked the end of a nine-year drought for human space flights from US soil.

Nasa’s Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley will be the first astronauts due to fly in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule.

The mission will be the final test of the spaceship before it begins carrying paying passengers later this year.