NASA’s launch of planet-hunting satellite Tess on Tuesday morning delayed

NASA’s newest planet-hunting spacecraft has suffered a hiccup in its quest to get aloft.

The launch of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) was originally scheduled for 8:30am AEST on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral air force Station in Florida.

However, it’s now has been delayed by at least 48 hours due to an issue with the SpaceX Falcon 9.

Earlier, NASA aired prelaunch mission coverage on the agency’s website on Sunday with three live briefings, where mission officials said Tess is ready to go.

“We just got done with our launch readiness review, and all went well,” said Omar Baez, senior launch director for the Launch Services Program at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

Tess will prowl for planets around the closest, brightest stars, eventually becoming prime targets for future telescopes looking for any signs of life.

The predecessor to Tess, the Kepler Space Telescope, has discovered more than 2,600 confirmed exoplanets during its tenure.

After nine years in space, NASA is expecting its dwindling fuel tank to run out within months.

Tess will prowl for planets around the closest, brightest stars, eventually becoming prime targets for future telescopes looking for any signs of life.

The predecessor to Tess, the Kepler Space Telescope, has discovered more than 2,600 confirmed exoplanets during its tenure.

After nine years in space, NASA is expecting its dwindling fuel tank to run out within months.