Historic SpaceX launch postponed because of stormy weather

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) Watch the preparations here.

UPDATE 5/27/2020 1:30 p.m. The launch of a SpaceX rocket ship with two NASA astronauts on a history-making flight into orbit has been called off with 16 minutes to go in the countdown because of the danger of lightning.

Liftoff is rescheduled for Saturday.

The spacecraft was set to blast off Wednesday afternoon for the International Space Station, ushering in a new era in commercial spaceflight and putting NASA back in the business of launching astronauts from U.S. for the first time in nearly a decade.

Ever since the space shuttle was retired in 2011, NASA has relied on Russian rockets to carry astronauts to and from the space station.

PREVIOUS STORY: With thunder threatening a delay, two NASA astronauts have made their their way to the launch pad for the liftoff of a SpaceX rocket ship on a history-making flight to the International Space Station.

The mission is seen as a giant leap forward for the booming business of commercial space travel.

Space veterans Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken are scheduled to ride into orbit Wednesday afternoon aboard the brand-new Dragon capsule.

It will be the first time in nearly a decade that the United States has launched astronauts into orbit from U.S. soil.