NASA and SpaceX postpone launch of ISS crew rotation mission

NASA and SpaceX announced the postponement of the launch of a crew of four to the International Space Station from the Kennedy Space Centre.

NASA and SpaceX postpone launch of ISS: NASA stated that the project was “standing down” from a planned Friday launch time but did not offer an explanation.

SpaceX is currently planning the launch for Saturday, August 26, at 3:27 am (local time; 07:27 GMT), for their seventh crew rotation mission to the microgravity laboratory for NASA.

With Andreas Mogensen of Denmark, Satoshi Furukawa of Japan, and Konstantin Borisov of Russia, Crew-7 will be led by American Jasmin Moghbeli.

The NASA Kennedy Space Centre in Florida will serve as the launch site for the mission, with a backup window of opportunity at 3:04 am (07:04 GMT) on Sunday.

The revised launch date, according to SpaceX, gave “teams additional time to complete and discuss analysis.”

The crew is prepared to fly, and the vehicles are in good condition.

Both Moghbeli and Borisov will be taking part in their maiden space journey.

“SpaceX’s Crew-7 Mission: A Journey of Dreams and International Collaboration”

During a press conference last month, test pilot for the Navy Moghbeli stated, “This is something I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember.”

The 40-year-old with Iranian ancestry continued, “Looking back at our beautiful planet is one of the things I’m most excited about.”

“Everyone I’ve spoken to who has already flown has said that was a perspective that changed their lives; in addition, floating around in space seems like a lot of fun.”

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has scheduled its first routine voyage to the orbital platform for 2020, and the upcoming launch of Crew-7 will mark the seventh mission in this series.

After the Space Shuttle programme ended in 2011, NASA implemented a commercial crew programme to lessen reliance on Russian rockets for astronaut transportation. As part of this programme, NASA pays SpaceX for the taxi service.

Boeing, the second private partner with a contract, has not yet conducted any crewed flights, and their program is facing challenges with delays and technical issues.

Borisov will be the third Russian to take to the skies in a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft mounted atop a Falcon 9 rocket.

Despite the invasion of Ukraine, the US and Russia continue to cooperate in a unique area: space. Americans continue to travel on Russian Soyuz rockets that take off from Kazakhstan.

“Exploring the Unknown: Research and Challenges Await Crew-7 During Their ISS Mission”

The crew will spend six months on board the ISS conducting scientific research, including gathering samples on a spacewalk to ascertain whether the station emits germs through life support system vents.

It is important to know whether bacteria can live and multiply in space.

Examining the physiological variations between sleep on Earth and sleep in space will be the focus of another experiment.

Managing all the tasks is something I’m looking forward to. You are preparing for something you haven’t attempted before, and you genuinely want to do it properly, which makes this profession really intriguing,” said Borisov.

After joining the seven other ISS crew members, Crew-7 will depart for Earth a few days after Crew-6.

Since its first component was launcd in 1998, the International Space Station (ISS) has host a multinational crew that has been living there continuously since 2001.

At least until 2030, when it will be deactivated and slam into the water, it will continue to operate. To replace it, a number of private corporations are developing commercial space stations.