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Stormy weather puts a damper on SpaceX’s 1st astronaut launch

Updated  May 27, 2020 5:09pm EDT
Space
Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - SpaceX has scrubbed Wednesday afternoon's manned launch after unfavorable weather conditions continued throughout the entire day. 

SpaceX will try again on Saturday at 3:22 p.m. EDT.

[ORIGINAL STORY]

Forecast for upcoming SpaceX crewed mission

FOX 35 meteorologist Jayme King takes a look ahead at the weather to expect on launch day.

Stormy weather is threatening to delay SpaceX’s first astronaut launch.

A SpaceX rocket is scheduled to blast off on Wednesday afternoon from Kennedy Space Center, carrying a Dragon capsule with NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken onboard to the International Space Station. It will be the first time astronauts launch from Florida in nearly ten years and a first for the private company.

SpaceX manned launch set for Wednesday

Anticipation is mounting for Wednesday's crewed launch. Planetarium Director at Seminole State College Derek Demeter talks to FOX 35 about this historic event.

The manager of NASA’s commercial crew program, Kathy Lueders, said everything was progressing well — at least on the ground.

“Now the only thing we need to do is figure out how to control the weather,” she said. “We’re continuing to be vigilant and careful and make sure we do this right.”

RELATED: 60 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for SpaceX manned mission on Wednesday

Forecasters put the odds of acceptable launch weather at 60 percent. But that doesn’t include the conditions all the way up the U.S. and Canadian coasts and across the sea to Ireland — a complicated mix of measurements unique to the Dragon crew capsule.

The Dragon’s emergency escape system can kick in, if necessary, all the way to orbit. If that happens, the capsule will need relatively calm wind and seas in which to splashdown. 

SpaceX will have at least two recovery ships deployed off of Florida and NASA will have two military cargo planes ready to take off. Additional planes will be stationed in New York and England to assist with a potential water rescue, according to Lueders.

SPACE COAST UPDATES: Click here for latest news and updates on the SpaceX manned mission 

Hans Koenigsmann, a Vice President for SpaceX, said the launch control team will incorporate global weather patterns and models to determine whether it’s safe to launch.

“If the weather gods are working with us,” he said, liftoff will occur at 4:33 p.m. SpaceX has a split-second launch window. 

Countdown to historic launch

We are less than 48 hours until the launch of the Crew Dragon capsule. Many are eager to watch the launch, including Jean Wright, of Brevard County, who worked on the shuttle program for seven years.

The good news is that the tropical weather headed toward Cape Canaveral should be gone in a couple of days, with conditions also improving up the eastern seaboard later in the week.

If the weather does not cooperate or if there is another reason for a delay, there are two backup launch dates on Saturday and Sunday.

FOX 35 WEATHER APP: Download for launch forecast updates, severe weather alerts, and live radar as the historic launch approaches

When the launch happens, you can watch it live on FOX 35 Orlando. If it happens on Wednesday, special coverage will begin on Good Day Orlando from 4 to 10 a.m. Then at 4 p.m., FOX 35 Orlando will go live from Cape Canaveral to capture the historic liftoff.

Tune in to FOX 35 Orlando for the latest Central Florida news.

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