The launch of the Delta IV heavy lift rocket carrying NASA's Orion capsule was delayed Thursday after a last minute technical glitch.

The new launch date of the Orion Exploration Test Flight-1 mission was re-set to Friday 7:05 A.M. EST. NASA has a lot riding on the success of Orion's maiden spaceflight. The spacecraft will eventually take humans to Mars, to asteroids and to the rest of the solar system.

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Gusty winds at the seaside Cape Canaveral, Florida compromised the launch. A wayward boat that blundered into the off-limits area was also a cause of delay.

The countdown restarted after the weather cleared but was stopped again when two rocket valves failed to close three minutes before lift-off. Unfortunately, the glitch went unresolved during the two and a half hour launch window. This led to the decision to scrub the launch.

Despite valiant efforts from the launch teams and mission managers, time ran out to troubleshoot the last of these technical issues, according to NASA commentator Michael Curie.

Orion's first unmanned space mission is expected to reach distances as far as 3,600 miles from the Earth, or three times farther than the International Space station. Orion will re-enter Earth's atmosphere at 20,000 miles per hour, subjecting it to temperatures of up to 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Orion will splash down in the Pacific Ocean four and a half hours after launch.

Orion cost US$9 billion to develop. In 2021, two astronauts will orbit the Moon in Orion.

This mission is a partnership between NASA and the United Launch Alliance consisting of Lockheed Martin and Boeing.

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