Cape Canaveral, Fla.: SpaceX’s next crewed flight is put on hold until at least next week, as NASA debates whether to bring astronauts back from the International Space Station before their replacements begin.
Flight surgeons, meanwhile, are continuing to monitor a minor medical problem affecting one of the four astronauts awaiting liftoff at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
NASA said Thursday that the astronaut they are not identifying should recover before a possible launch attempt on Monday. But NASA may choose to bring home the four astronauts who have been on the space station from April onwards. They will return Sunday in their SpaceX capsule as soon as possible; Which will further postpone the next crew launch.
Weather can be particularly challenging in November, so we aim to proceed with the plan with the highest probability of mission assurance and crew safety, NASA Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stich said in a statement.
The US-German crew was supposed to arrive at the space station last weekend, but bad weather along the flight path pushed the flight to Wednesday. But then one of the astronauts was sidelined for unknown medical reasons, and the launch was postponed for later this week. But with fears of more inclement weather, SpaceX and NASA put it on hold until next week.
NASA said that managers will soon make a final decision on whether to prioritize the launch or splashdown based on the weather. They are also reviewing how many days will be required between the two incidents.
Also factoring into the equation is the amount of time a SpaceX capsule can remain in orbit before its system malfunctions. The company’s Dragon capsule is designed to last 210 days; There one now recorded day 195 on Thursday. According to NASA, additional analysis could increase the allowable time.
If the four astronauts come home first, the station will be occupied by an American and two Russians.
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The Associated Press Department of Health and Science is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Department of Science Education. AP is solely responsible for all content.
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