NASA’s Orion spacecraft move to launch pad postponed for 24 hours

TORONTO – The first step in testing a spacecraft that will eventually take humans to Mars was postponed on Monday.

Orion was scheduled to be moved from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Abort System Facility in preparation for the unmanned Dec. 4 test launch of the Orion spacecraft Monday — the first crewed vehicle since the space shuttle.

READ MORE: In Photos: NASA’s first launch of Orion spacecraft and what to expect

However, due local thunderstorms, Lockheed Martin — who designed the capsule — and United Launch Alliance (ULA) — responsible for the rocket aboard which Orion was to be paired — both agreed to postpone the launch by 24 hours.

The delay will not affect the December  launch date.

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