Weather could delay SpaceX's historic launch on May 27; What's next?

A tropical disturbance leing to stormy wear in Florida could jeopardise launch of X’s Dragon capsule on May 27 as forecasters have put odds of acceptable launch wear at 40 per cent. As per current plan, NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley are expected to fly on Crew Dragon craft, lifting off on a Falcon 9 rocket at 2.03pm IST.

However, if wear condition forces NASA and X to abort mission, re are two or launch windows in next week. backup launch opportunities are available on May 30 at 12.52am IST, and May 31 at 12.30am IST. Kathy Lueders, manr of NASA's commercial crew program, said that though emergency escape system can kick in all way to orbit, it will need relatively calm wind as seas to splashdown.

“We're continuing to be vigilant and careful and make sure we do this right. Forecasters put odds of acceptable launch wear at 40 per cent,” said Lueders.

Historic mission

It is final major test for X’s human flight system prior to being certified by NASA for operational crew missions to and from International Station. NASA ministrator Jim Bridenstine on May 23 anunced that X has been given a “go-ahe” for historic Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission set to launch coming week. With this mission, NASA will launch its first crewed mission from US soil in almost 10 years. 

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After entering orbit, crew and X mission control will test environmental control and life support systems, maeuvring thrusters, and rmal control systems among or things to check wher craft is performing as expected. It will perform a series of phasing maeuvres to position itself for rendezvous and docking with International Station.

While Crew Dragon is designed to perform maeuvres and docking on its own, astronauts piloting craft and ISS will be monitoring it and can take control will if deemed necessary. After successful conclusion of test flight mission, craft will undock and depart Station along with two astronauts to return to Earth.

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