BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — 4:15 p.m. update: The Crew-1 launch has been delayed.
Due to onshore winds and recovery operations, NASA and SpaceX are now targeting a 7:27 p.m. launch on Sunday.
The launch was previously set for 7:49 p.m. Saturday.
Read our previous story below:
We’re just one day away from another historic launch from Florida’s Space Coast.
On Saturday, four astronauts will suit up and climb into the Crew Dragon space capsule, then take part in the very first operational mission to the International Space Station under the commercial crew program.
READ: Countdown dress rehearsal a success ahead of this weekend’s crewed launch
NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker, and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi did a dress rehearsal on Thursday, so now all that’s left is to lift off for real. Now the only thing that could put the mission on pause would be a technical issue or Mother Nature.
NASA and SpaceX are targeting 7:49 p.m. for the launch of Crew-1. Once they reach the space station, they’ll join Expedition 64 for a six-month science mission. Expedition 64 will mark the beginning of seven crew operations on the space station.
READ: ‘We are ready’: 4 astronauts set to launch to ISS this weekend
It’s a quick trip to orbit for Crew Dragon, just 12 minutes after liftoff. The crew will then spend around eight and a half hours in orbit, arriving at the space station and docking around 4:20 a.m. EST on Sunday.
U.S. Air Force meteorologists are predicting a 70% chance of favorable weather conditions on Saturday. But recovery conditions are just as important just in case of a launch emergency.
READ: Two dozen sea turtles rescued after washing up in Brevard County
“Spring 2021 when they’re back home, that’s when I’ll breathe a sigh of relief,” NASA materials engineer Nathan Trepal said.
See maps of the launch area traffic below: