The Antares rocket at its launch pad on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 25.

(NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA aborted the launch of its Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft in Virginia on Oct. 27 because of a boat in the launch area.

NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility and Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport were set to send the Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus spacecraft and 5,000 pounds of supplies to the International Space Stationbefore the interruption.

The launch was planned to take place right after sunset, meaning the Antares rocket would be sunlit and producing a highly visible plume as it ascended.

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Twelve minutes before the launch planned for 6:45 p.m. EDT, NASA held the countdown in an attempt to clear the hazard area, but eventually scrapped the operation.

NASA says this was supposed to be the first night launch of an Antares rocket and the fourth Cygnus spacecraft flight.

Millions on the East Coast would have been able to see the launch if it had gone according to plan.

No word yet for when the launch will be rescheduled.

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Wright Shumate sent this picture via Twitter. 'My photo of the Minotaur rocket launch and the moon. Taken from North Carolina.'