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A SpaceX and NASA mission scheduled to launch four astronauts representing four countries and space agencies around the world to the International Space Station was abruptly canceled Thursday night.
The exact reason for the delay, announced late Thursday night, was not immediately clear. The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying the astronauts was scheduled to launch on Friday at 3:50 a.m. ET from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
In a social media post, SpaceX said the reason for pushing back the launch time to 3:27 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26 is that it “allows the team additional time to complete and discuss the analysis.” only said.
“The vehicle is in sound condition and the crew is ready for flight,” the paper said. post Shared on website X, formerly known as Twitter.
NASA spokesman Rob Navias said during the livestream, “We are postponing the launch of the Crew-7 crew for 24 hours to allow more time for mission leaders to meet and complete outstanding paperwork. I chose to,” he said.
The latest forecast from the U.S. Space Force, which oversees rocket launches, puts a 95% chance of favorable weather for Saturday’s launch.
Called Crew 7, the four astronauts scheduled to launch aboard the mission include NASA’s Jasmine Mogberg, who will serve as mission commander. Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen, President of the European Space Agency. Mr. Satoshi Furukawa of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). and Russian cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov in Roscosmos.
Upon arrival at the space station, Mogberg, Mogensen, Furukawa and Borisov will join the seven astronauts. I’m already in the Orbital Lab.
In about five days, the Crew-7 astronauts will take over duties from SpaceX’s Crew-6 astronauts who have been on the space station since March.
The mission will be the eighth flight that NASA and SpaceX will operate as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, which has transported astronauts to the space station since the first manned mission in 2020.