SpaceX supply run to International Space Station postponed to Monday
The launch was originally scheduled for Saturday, but has been delayed twice in part due to poor weather conditions. SpaceX is scheduled to launch supplies to the space station, including two new solar arrays.
What is the International Space Station?
The International Space Station (ISS) has hosted astronauts living and working in space for more than two decades, making groundbreaking contributions to technology and medicine along the way.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. – SpaceX is prepping for its 28th cargo launch to the International Space Station for NASA on Monday, carrying a variety of science, supplies and hardware to complete the station's major power upgrade.
The launch of a SpaceX Cargo Dragon was originally scheduled for Saturday at 12:35 p.m. EDT but was delayed to allow for more time for vehicle preparations and for weather conditions to improve, according to NASA. Their next launch attempt was Sunday at 12:12 p.m. EDT. However, that, too, was delayed.
SpaceX said the next launch attempt would be at 11:47 a.m. EDT on Monday.
Weather for the once-Saturday launch was only 30% favorable, according to the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron, due to frequent showers and storms across the Florida Peninsula through the weekend.
Weather for the Sunday launch was 40% favorable, with the primary weather concerns being the cumulus cloud rule, flight through participation, and surface electric fields rule.
The forecast looks 60% favorable for Monday's launch attempt, with primary weather concerns including flight through participation, the cumulus cloud rule and liftoff winds.
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Power up
NASA astronaut Josh Cassada attached to the space station CanadaArm2 with a rollout solar array. Cassada and NASA Astronaut Frank Rubio are spacewalking on Dec. 3, 2022 to installed two new solar arrays. (Image: NASA) (NASA)
A pair of International Space Station rollout solar arrays or iROSAs made by Redwire Space will be among the goods launched to the International Space Station.
The two arrays are the third set over two years launched by SpaceX and will be installed outside the orbiting laboratory to complete the ongoing upgrade to the station's power grid. The solar arrays ride up to the ISS in the trunk of the Dragon spacecraft and then unfurl in space like rolled-out carpets.
NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Woody Huburg will spacewalk on June 9 to install one of the new solar arrays.
NASA astronauts Frank Rubio and Josh Cassada installed the second pair of arrays in December.
After the final iROSA is installed during a spacewalk later this year, the solar arrays will help power the ISS through 2030.