Historic SpaceX launch delayed due to bad weather, next attempt coming this weekend
By
Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published May 26, 2020 12:08 AM EDT
Take a look at this ominous shelf cloud hovering above the Falcon 9 rocket, which was set to lift off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on May 27 before weather caused the launch to be delayed.
History will be made this weekend at Cape Canaveral, Florida, as SpaceX launches astronauts into space for the first time. Not only will this be the first time that the privately owned company is sending astronauts into space, but it will be the first time that astronauts have launched from the United States in nearly a decade.
The launch was originally set for Wednesday, May 27 at 4:33 p.m. EDT, but poor weather conditions forced SpaceX and NASA to delay the launch.
The next launch attempt will be on Saturday, May 30 at 3:22 p.m. EDT.
SpaceX has become a household name in recent years with the company launching, and landing, dozens of rockets. After blasting off and sending its payload into orbit, the company attempts to perform a controlled landing of the first stage of their Falcon 9 rocket. This can then be reused for future flights to help reduce costs.
The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket landing on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean after sending its payload into space. (NASA)
Many of these missions have been to deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) or to loft satellites into orbit around the Earth. However, Saturday’s launch will be the first time that the company will be sending humans into space.
July 8, 2011 marked the final launch of the Space Shuttle program, the last time that astronauts have launched from U.S. soil. Ever since, NASA astronauts have been hitching a ride to space on Russia’s Soyuz rocket to fly to and from the ISS.
“Demo-2 is the final major test for SpaceX’s human spaceflight system to be certified by NASA for operational crew missions to and from the International Space Station,” SpaceX said. “SpaceX is returning human spaceflight to the United States with one of the safest, most advanced systems ever built, and NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is a turning point for America’s future in space exploration that lays the groundwork for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.”
A Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket with a payload of approximately 60 satellites for SpaceX's Starlink broadband network lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Only a select few were at the Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday afternoon due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, including President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. However, crowds still gathered outside of the spaceport in nearby towns, such as Titusville, Florida.
"When that rocket goes off next week, it'll remind the American people that even in the midst of the most challenging times, America still moves forward," Pence told Fox News.
NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley stand at the launchpad ahead of this week's highly anticipated crewed SpaceX launch. (NASA)
Every aspect of the weather must be taken into consideration to make sure that the launch goes flawlessly. Even if there are no thunderstorms around, a rocket can trigger its own lightning, like what happened during the launch of Apollo 12.
Rain and storms soaked the area on Wednesday afternoon as the crew prepared to blast off from Florida. A tornado warning was issued just north of the launch pad shortly before 2 p.m. EDT, but it did not disrupt the activities at the launchpad.
The launch attempt was ultimately scrubbed due to the threat of lightning.
“Here in this particular case, we had just simply too much electricity in the atmosphere. There wasn’t really a lightning storm or anything like that, but there was a concern that if we did launch, it could actually trigger lightning, and so we made the right decision,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said on Wednesday evening.
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NASA and SpaceX will now attempt to hold the launch on Saturday afternoon. Liftoff is set for 3:22 p.m. EDT.
The weather may once again threaten to postpone the launch with only a 50% chance of acceptable weather conditions on Saturday, according to the 45th Weather Squadron, the group of Air Force meteorologists who issue weather forecasts for NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
The biggest weather concern on Saturday is the risk of thunderstorms and lightning. AccuWeather Futurecast is painting a stormy picture around the launch pad on Saturday afternoon, showing several thunderstorms in the area that could cause the mission to be delayed again.
If the launch is delayed again, the next attempt will likely be on Sunday afternoon. Showers and thunderstorms may continue to be an issue if the launch is moved to the second half of the weekend.
Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley will be the NASA astronauts aboard the Crew Dragon on its mission to the ISS. Both are accomplished astronauts who flew during the Space Shuttle program.
Most recently, Hurley was a member of STS-135, the final flight of the Space Shuttle program, according to SPACE.com. He was among the last astronauts to launch from Florida, and now will become one of the first to fly on a commercial rocket.
"I certainly didn't expect to fly again, (and) I certainly didn't necessarily have a plan to fly again," Hurley said in an interview with USA Today. "Once again, I think Bob and I are very humbled to be in this position."
The Crew Dragon space capsule mounted atop the Falcon 9 rocket that is set to launch on Wednesday. (NASA)
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News / Astronomy
Historic SpaceX launch delayed due to bad weather, next attempt coming this weekend
By Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published May 26, 2020 12:08 AM EDT
Take a look at this ominous shelf cloud hovering above the Falcon 9 rocket, which was set to lift off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on May 27 before weather caused the launch to be delayed.
History will be made this weekend at Cape Canaveral, Florida, as SpaceX launches astronauts into space for the first time. Not only will this be the first time that the privately owned company is sending astronauts into space, but it will be the first time that astronauts have launched from the United States in nearly a decade.
The launch was originally set for Wednesday, May 27 at 4:33 p.m. EDT, but poor weather conditions forced SpaceX and NASA to delay the launch.
The next launch attempt will be on Saturday, May 30 at 3:22 p.m. EDT.
SpaceX has become a household name in recent years with the company launching, and landing, dozens of rockets. After blasting off and sending its payload into orbit, the company attempts to perform a controlled landing of the first stage of their Falcon 9 rocket. This can then be reused for future flights to help reduce costs.
The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket landing on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean after sending its payload into space. (NASA)
Many of these missions have been to deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) or to loft satellites into orbit around the Earth. However, Saturday’s launch will be the first time that the company will be sending humans into space.
July 8, 2011 marked the final launch of the Space Shuttle program, the last time that astronauts have launched from U.S. soil. Ever since, NASA astronauts have been hitching a ride to space on Russia’s Soyuz rocket to fly to and from the ISS.
“Demo-2 is the final major test for SpaceX’s human spaceflight system to be certified by NASA for operational crew missions to and from the International Space Station,” SpaceX said. “SpaceX is returning human spaceflight to the United States with one of the safest, most advanced systems ever built, and NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is a turning point for America’s future in space exploration that lays the groundwork for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.”
A Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket with a payload of approximately 60 satellites for SpaceX's Starlink broadband network lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Only a select few were at the Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday afternoon due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, including President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. However, crowds still gathered outside of the spaceport in nearby towns, such as Titusville, Florida.
"When that rocket goes off next week, it'll remind the American people that even in the midst of the most challenging times, America still moves forward," Pence told Fox News.
NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley stand at the launchpad ahead of this week's highly anticipated crewed SpaceX launch. (NASA)
Every aspect of the weather must be taken into consideration to make sure that the launch goes flawlessly. Even if there are no thunderstorms around, a rocket can trigger its own lightning, like what happened during the launch of Apollo 12.
Rain and storms soaked the area on Wednesday afternoon as the crew prepared to blast off from Florida. A tornado warning was issued just north of the launch pad shortly before 2 p.m. EDT, but it did not disrupt the activities at the launchpad.
The launch attempt was ultimately scrubbed due to the threat of lightning.
“Here in this particular case, we had just simply too much electricity in the atmosphere. There wasn’t really a lightning storm or anything like that, but there was a concern that if we did launch, it could actually trigger lightning, and so we made the right decision,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said on Wednesday evening.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
NASA and SpaceX will now attempt to hold the launch on Saturday afternoon. Liftoff is set for 3:22 p.m. EDT.
The weather may once again threaten to postpone the launch with only a 50% chance of acceptable weather conditions on Saturday, according to the 45th Weather Squadron, the group of Air Force meteorologists who issue weather forecasts for NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
The biggest weather concern on Saturday is the risk of thunderstorms and lightning. AccuWeather Futurecast is painting a stormy picture around the launch pad on Saturday afternoon, showing several thunderstorms in the area that could cause the mission to be delayed again.
If the launch is delayed again, the next attempt will likely be on Sunday afternoon. Showers and thunderstorms may continue to be an issue if the launch is moved to the second half of the weekend.
Related:
Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley will be the NASA astronauts aboard the Crew Dragon on its mission to the ISS. Both are accomplished astronauts who flew during the Space Shuttle program.
Most recently, Hurley was a member of STS-135, the final flight of the Space Shuttle program, according to SPACE.com. He was among the last astronauts to launch from Florida, and now will become one of the first to fly on a commercial rocket.
"I certainly didn't expect to fly again, (and) I certainly didn't necessarily have a plan to fly again," Hurley said in an interview with USA Today. "Once again, I think Bob and I are very humbled to be in this position."
The Crew Dragon space capsule mounted atop the Falcon 9 rocket that is set to launch on Wednesday. (NASA)
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo