SpaceX's planned launch of the Deep Space Climate Observatory, or DSCOVR, was postponed until Monday at the earliest because of a problem with the U.S. Air Force's tracking radar system in Florida and California.

The launch of a Falcon 9 rocket and the US$340 million DSCOVR is tentatively targeted for 6:07 p.m. ET Monday. There is a 40 percent chance of acceptable weather.

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The weather was perfect Sunday, but the radar issue forced the Air Force to say it was "no go" about two-and-a-half minutes before the planned 6:10 p.m. liftoff.

With an instantaneous launch window, there was no more time available to troubleshoot the problem, resulting in the scrub.

"The radar was not going to be able to come back up online and be ready to support the flight in time. So with that we had to call a hold," said SpaceX's John Insprucker during the company's Webcast.

Radar tracking is a critical part of operations for a space launch because range safety officers need to be able to destroy the rocket in case it goes off course during ascent. SpaceX founder Elon Musk said the launch team was also dealing with a problem that affected a transmitter on the rocket's first stage.

The radar was required to track the Falcon 9 rocket during its flight from the Cape, part of the 45th Space Wing's responsibility for public safety during launches from the Eastern Range.

After the launch, SpaceX will make its second attempt to land the Falcon 9's first-stage booster on a platform roughly 370 miles down range. Efforts made last January failed.

TagsElon Musk, SpaceX, rocket launch, SpaceX launch postpone due to radar glitch, Falcon 9, falcon 9 rocket, rocket, Deep Space Climate Observatory mission, DSCOVR