SpaceX calls off crew launch to space station due to high winds along flight path
Last edited Sat Mar 2, 2024, 09:32 PM - Edit history (1)
Source: CBS News
Updated on: March 2, 2024 / 8:21 PM EST
SpaceX called off an attempt to launch three astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut on an already delayed flight to the International Space Station late Sunday due to high winds along the Crew Dragon spacecraft's trajectory.
"This is the LD," the SpaceX launch director said just before 8 p.m. EST. "At this time we are standing down from the launch attempt tonight due to elevated ascent winds."
Crew 8 commander Matthew Dominick, co-pilot Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps and cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin had just finished donning their white SpaceX pressure suits and were preparing to depart for the launch pad when the countdown was called off.
If all goes well, they'll be cleared for another launch try Sunday at 10:53 p.m. EST, setting up a docking at the space station's forward port around 3 a.m. Tuesday. Launch originally was planned for 12:04 a.m. Friday, but high winds and rough seas in the Atlantic Ocean, where the crew might have to splash down in an abort, prompted a two-day delay.
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nasa-spacex-gear-up-launch-4-to-international-space-station/
Article updated.
Original article/headline -
March 2, 2024 / 6:24 PM EST
Keeping tabs on uncertain weather, mission managers decided Saturday to press ahead with an attempt to launch three astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut on a flight to the International Space Station.
Crew 8 commander Matthew Dominick, co-pilot Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps and cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin planned to strap into their Crew Dragon spacecraft around 9 p.m. EST to await launch from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center at 11:16 p.m. EST.
If all goes well, the rocket's reusable first stage, making its maiden flight, will fly itself back to landing at the nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station after boosting the upper stage and Crew Dragon out of the lower atmosphere. The Crew Dragon is expected to be released to fly on its own 12 minutes after liftoff.
NASA and SpaceX originally targeted launch for early Friday, but high winds and rough seas in the Atlantic Ocean, where the crew might have to splash down in an abort, prompted a two-day delay. Offshore conditions were still marginal Saturday, sources said, but mission managers opted to press ahead with the countdown.
= new reply since forum marked as read
