The Space Force's data satellites will wait a little longer. SpaceX waved off its Tuesday launch chance for the Space Development Agency's Tranche 1 Transport Layer A mission, Spaceflight Now reported Monday night. The company said the next opportunity was Thursday.

Monday's try ended in the final minute of the countdown, just as the Falcon 9 was moving into its automated startup sequence. SpaceX has not said why it stopped.

Launch tracker Next Spaceflight now lists liftoff at 07:54 UTC on Thursday, Oct. 8. That is 12:54 a.m. Pacific time, or 3:54 a.m. Eastern, from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base. The site lists an official livestream for the mission.

The rocket will carry 21 satellites built by Northrop Grumman. They arrived at Vandenberg on Sept. 28. The booster, B1103, is making its sixth flight. SpaceX plans to land it at Landing Zone 4 less than 7.5 minutes after liftoff. That would be the 37th landing there and the 668th Falcon booster landing overall, Spaceflight Now said.

This is the fourth launch of working satellites for the agency's Tranche 1 network. Earlier flights went up on Sept. 10 and Oct. 15 of last year and July 16 of this year. Those put 63 satellites in orbit.

The goal is a web of small satellites instead of a few big ones. The agency says its Transport Layer will grow to 300 to 500 satellites between 750 and 1,200 kilometers up. Once complete, 95% of the globe would be in view of at least two satellites at any time. The satellites talk to each other with laser links and connect to the military's Link-16 radio network. Tranche 1 is expected to start serving the Defense Department in 2027.

When finished, Tranche 1 will include 126 Transport Layer satellites, 28 missile-tracking satellites and four missile defense test spacecraft.

What we know: SpaceX says its next chance to launch is Thursday.
What we don't: Why Monday's countdown stopped, or whether the fix is done.