Emirates Lunar Mission (ELM) of Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) will launch on Thursday, December 1, at 12.37pm UAE time.
Due to additional pre-flight checks that must be conducted for the launch vehicle, the launch scheduled for Wednesday from Cape Canaveral in Florida has been delayed.
It is the third delay of this highly anticipated launch since the rover was supposed to be launched on November 22, but it was delayed twice to November 28 and November 30.
SpaceX tweeted on Wednesday, "Standing down from launch of Ispace's HAKUTO-R Mission 1 to allow for additional preflight checks; now targeting Thursday morning, December 1 at 3:37 ET."
Experts say backup launch dates are considered for a variety of reasons. The rocket may be experiencing weather anomalies or mechanical problems.
As a result, launch agencies will have ample time to analyze the space mission in detail.
"To launch a rocket requires a tremendous amount of effort," explains Sarath Raj, Project Director - Amity Dubai Satellite Ground Station and AmiSat, Amity University Dubai. It is possible for launches to be delayed for a variety of reasons. Weather conditions and technical glitches in the vehicle are the main causes of launch delays."
During any given day, there are stated to be specific periods of time or "launch windows".
Rocket launches are permitted only during these launch windows. Each day, this can last for about half an hour to a few hours. Even those windows aren't available every day.
Additionally, there are "launch periods" during which the Moon lines up with our planet so that it's favourable for the mission.
Raj adds, "For the launch to be safe, the flight meteorologist will analyze 14 meteorological data." Wind is the primary factor to be considered; sustained wind speeds above 30 mph above the 162-foot level of the launch pad prevent the launch from taking place. Upper-atmospheric winds blow at substantially higher speeds, which increases vertical wind shear. Lightning and thunderstorms are the most important phenomena to watch during space launches. Lightning within 10 nautical miles of the launch site or flight route prevents launch for 30 minutes until the required circumstances are met.
Another criteria is thunderstorm-related sky electricity; if a thunderstorm's edge that has produced lightning within the past 30 minutes is within 10 miles of the launch site, the launch will be aborted."
Raj explains that clouds are also a threat to the rocket's safety.
The launch will be cancelled if a cloud layer is more than 4,500 feet thick, stretches into sub-freezing temperatures, and is within 10 nautical miles of cumulus clouds. Rockets cannot launch in the event of precipitation. In hot weather, rocket launches often go off without a hitch. Nevertheless, temperatures below 8.88 degrees Celsius could cause hazardous ice formation. A launch might also be aborted if there is an increase in cloud cover, rain, or humidity. There are also large quantities of high-energy particles in near-orbit space that can cause rocket launches to be canceled."