NASA announced on Wednesday that its much-anticipated SpaceX Crew-2 launch to the International Space Station (ISS) has been delayed.
NASA, SPACEX CREW-2 READY READY FOR ANOTHER HISTORY FLIGHT THURSDAY MORNING
Agency leaders initially lifted ET from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:11 a.m. Thursday morning, and agency leaders confirmed Wednesday that the event is now Friday 5:49 a.m. ET.
The delay, NASA explained in a release, is due to adverse weather conditions predicted on the flight path for Thursday.
The spacecraft is expected to land at the space station at around 05:10 ET on Saturday.
At a news conference on Tuesday, U.S. Army Officer Brian Cizek’s 45th weather officer, Brian Cizek, said the agency’s weather and winds were the biggest concern.
From left to right, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet, NASA astronaut Megan McArthur and NASA’s Shane Kimbrough, and Japan’s astronaut Exploration Agency (JAXA) Akihiko Hoshide are dressed in SpaceX space wear, as they prepare to leave the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building for Launch Complex 39A during a dress rehearsal ahead 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 during NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 administrative briefing, Bob Cabana, director of the Kennedy Space Center, explained that they were “concerned” about winds and waves in the event of a 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, the Japanese Aviation Agency (JAXA), SS Director, Junichi Sakai, and the ISS Program Manager of the European Space Agency, Frank de Winne, were also present.
The Crew Dragon Endeavor – the second crew on a commercial spacecraft mission and the first with two international astronauts – includes NASA’s Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and French astronaut Thomas Pesquet.
Their voyage aboard the ISS is expected to take six months.
“As Bob mentioned, we have a bit of weather abroad again. Unlike a robotic mission where we only have to focus on the weather at the launch site, we have to watch and take care of a mission with a crew from below. that we are again well on track for a potential escape and recovery of the crew, “Jurczyk remarked.” And so, we will plan on Friday. “
Jurczyk said he met with crew members Tuesday night and they are “ready to go.”
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“I could no longer be proud of the Commerical Crew program and the SpaceX team and the NASA team. And what they could do to enable reliable, safe and efficient transportation to and from [the] station, “he concluded.” Third launch in less than a year. Demo-2, Crew-1 and now Crew-2 and looking forward to a great launch Friday and bringing Crew-1 home next week. ‘
The launch of the launch of activities, launch and docking will be broadcast live on NASA Television and the agency’s app and website.