NASA announced on Wednesday that the highly anticipated launch of SpaceX Crew-2 to the International Space Station (ISS) has been delayed.
NASA, SPACEX CREW-2 PREPARE FOR ANOTHER HISTORICAL FLIGHT THURSDAY MORNING
Originally scheduled to take off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:11 a.m.ET on Thursday morning, agency leaders confirmed on Wednesday that the event is now scheduled for 5:49 a.m.ET on Friday.
The delay, NASA explained in a release, is due to adverse weather conditions predicted along Thursday’s flight path.
The spacecraft is expected to dock at the space station around 5:10 a.m. ET on Saturday.
At a prior Tuesday press conference, Brian Cizek, the US Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron Launch Weather Officer, said downrange wind and weather were the agency’s main concern.
From left to right, ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet (European Space Agency), NASA astronauts Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide are seen preparing for the departure of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building for Launch Complex 39A during a dress rehearsal prior to the launch of the Crew-2 mission, Sunday, April 18, 2021, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo credit: (NASA / Aubrey Gemignani)
(NASA / Aubrey Gemignani)
On Wednesday at NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 administrator briefing, Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana explained that they were “concerned” about downrange winds and wave heights in the event of a “aborted” mission.
“It’s going to be absolutely beautiful on Friday morning and we’ll come out and do it again,” he said.
Acting NASA Administrator Steve Jurczyk, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) SS Manager Junichi Sakai and European Space Agency (ESA) ISS Program Manager Frank de Winne were also in attendance.
The Crew Dragon Endeavor – the crew’s second rotation on a commercial space mission and the first with two international partner astronauts – includes NASA’s Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, and French astronaut Thomas Pesquet.
Their journey on the ISS will take six months.
“As Bob said, we have some bad weather at sea. Unlike a robotic mission where we really have to focus on the weather here at the launch site, for a manned mission we have to look down and make sure our weather is good. for a possible escape from the launch and crew recovery, “Jurczyk pointed out.”
Jurczyk said he met with the crew members on Tuesday evening and that they are “ready to go”.
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“I couldn’t be more proud of the Commerical Crew program and the SpaceX team and the NASA team. And what they have been able to do to provide reliable, safe and effective transportation to and from [the] station, “he concluded.” Third launch in less than a year. Demo-2, Crew-1 and now Crew-2 and I look forward to a great launch on Friday and bringing Crew-1 home next week. “
Coverage of the launch, launch and docking activities will be broadcast live on NASA Television and the agency’s app and website.