Mission delayed: NASA pushes SpaceX Crew-4 mission to April 23, astronauts remain isolated

Astronauts of Crew-4 mission heing to International Space Station (ISS) will have to wait a little longer as NASA has pushed mission by a couple of days. Earlier scheduled for April 21, mission would launch no earlier than April 23, agency informed in a mission update. “ date justment provides mission teams time to complete final prelaunch processing for Crew-4 mission following April 8 launch of Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1) to space station”, NASA’s statement re. 

Currently, mission teams are continuously monitoring operational timelines with ongoing space activities, including spacewalks and return of Ax-1 crew. In dition to this, monitoring also includes keeping a watch on wear forecast for launch operations. If mission is not launched on new date, April 24 and April 25 have also been reserved as backup opportunities. 

Currently, liftoff is targeted on April 23 at 2:56 pm (IST) from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Crew-4 team, which includes four astronauts, will board ‘Freedom’ Dragon capsule atop a Falcon 9 rocket provided by SpaceX.

Astronauts remain in quarantine

Crew- 4 team includes three NASA astronauts- Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines and Jessica Watkins and one European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti. All of members were put into quarantine starting April 7 and were supposed to be isolated for two weeks before ir flight. Quarantining before a mission is important because it ensures that astronauts remain in good health. This measure is also taken to protect astronauts alrey aboard ISS.

 NASA says that it is ensuring ditional safeguards since start of Coronavirus pandemic. Each of members will be tested twice for virus as a precaution along with those who make direct contact with crew. As for mission, Lindgren has been chosen as mission commander whereas Watkins and Cristoforetti will serve as mission specialists. Hines, on or hand, will serve as mission pilot.

Image: Twitter/@Commercial_Crew