A technical problem has forced SpaceX to abort what would have been the first launch of a privately owned capsule to the International Space Station.

The pre-dawn launch of the Dragon Capsule from Cape Canaveral, Florida was scrubbed a second before it was to occur on Saturday.

Initial plans are to try again Tuesday morning.

The capsule is on a long, thin white rocket owned by SpaceX. It is carrying supplies for the international space station.

SpaceX president Gwynn Shotwell says the company decided to stop the launch after a computer detected high chamber pressure in one of the engines. She said they are uncertain of the cause.

“Engine 5 was trending high, but it hit the abort limit at T-minus-point 5”

Shotwell told reporters all nine of the rocket's engines are needed for lift-off.

The Dragon Capsule is carrying 544 kilograms of cargo for what would be a test flight.

The cargo is not considered essential for the space station crew.

SpaceX received more than $380 million in funding from the U.S. space agency, NASA, which retired its space shuttle fleet, last year.