WELLINGTON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Rocket Lab said

on Thursday that the scheduled launch of its Electron rocket

into space from a facility in New Zealand was aborted just prior

to lift off due to issues with on ground support equipment.

The rocket, carrying five satellite for Kineis, a French

operator and provider of space-based internet-of-things

(IoT) connectivity, failed to blast off from Rocket Lab's launch

pad on the country's North Island about 11 a.m. (2300 GMT).

It was shut down safely, and Electron and the launch pad all

"remain healthy", according to a post by the company on social

media platform X.

Peter Beck, company founder and chief executive, said on X

that the abort was triggered by a piece of ground support

equipment that had not reached its target in the allocated time.

"We like everything on the ground to be just as happy as

everything in the sky," he added.

Rocket Lab said a further launch would not be attempted on

Thursday, and the team was now assessing opportunities for the

next launch attempt.

This mission, dubbed "Kineis Killed the RaIOT Star", was

meant to be the 53rd Electron rocket launch, according to the

company.