Storms Force SpaceX and NASA to Delay Historic Astronaut Launch
Bad weather along Florida's Atlantic coast prompts NASA and SpaceX to scrub the historic Demo-2 mission. The backup launch date provides another opportunity to send astronauts to the International Space Station.
SpaceX and NASA delay the historic Demo-2 mission due to inclement weather along the Atlantic coast of Florida. Roughly 20 minutes before the planned liftoff, lightning, storm clouds, and the nearby tropical storm Bertha force the space agencies to scrub the launch. The mission is now rescheduled for a backup launch time on May 30, with additional dates planned for May 31, June 2, and June 3.
The weather constraints for this mission are extremely strict because NASA requires clear skies across dozens of possible emergency abort locations scattered over the Atlantic Ocean. If a malfunction occurs during flight, the Crew Dragon spacecraft uses eight SuperDraco thrusters to violently pull the capsule away from the Falcon 9 rocket to safety. Unfortunately, the current weather patterns do not provide a safe enough environment for these emergency scenarios.
When the mission finally lifts off, it marks a monumental milestone for the American space program as the first time astronauts launch to orbit from the United States since the retirement of the space shuttle in 2011. Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley ride inside the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, making this the first time a private company sends humans into space using a spacecraft and rocket of its own design.