NASA planet-hunting spacecraft rockets away

<p> This image made available by NASA shows an illustration of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). Scheduled for an April 2018 launch, the spacecraft will prowl for planets around the closest, brightest stars. These newfound worlds eventually will become prime targets for future telescopes looking to tease out any signs of life. (NASA via AP) </p>

This image made available by NASA shows an illustration of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). Scheduled for an April 2018 launch, the spacecraft will prowl for planets around the closest, brightest stars. These newfound worlds eventually will become prime targets for future telescopes looking to tease out any signs of life. (NASA via AP)

By Associated Press

NASA's Tess spacecraft has embarked on a quest to find new worlds around nearby stars that could support life.

Tess soared from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a SpaceX rocket Wednesday evening.

The rocket had originally been scheduled to blast off Monday evening, but the launch was scrubbed because SpaceX needed more time to check the rocket that will carry the satellite into orbit.

[ Read: Atlas V rocket blasts off from Cape Canaveral ]

The satellite, which is known as TESS, will survey almost the entire sky, staring at the brightest, closest stars in an effort to find any encircling planets. These mysterious worlds beyond our solar system, called exoplanets, could harbor life.

Scientists expect TESS -- the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite -- to discover thousands of rocky and icy planets and gas giants, maybe even water worlds and places defying imagination. Bigger and more powerful observatories of the future will scrutinize these prime candidates for potential signs of life.

[ Read: NASA spacecraft aims to put mystery planets on galactic map ]

SpaceX said extra time was needed to examine the Falcon 9 rocket's guidance, navigation and control system.

SpaceX sometimes uses recycled rocket boosters, but this one is brand new. The company hopes to land this first stage on a floating ocean platform following liftoff and reuse it on a space station supply run for NASA this summer.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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