They Only Needed Another 10-20 Minutes To Get Past The Worst of The Weather...

NASA and SpaceX scrubbed Wednesday’s launch attempt of the Demo-2 test flight to the International Space Station with astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley due to unfavorable weather conditions around Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The launch of the SpaceX Crew Dragon to the ISS was scrubbed less than 20 minutes before the scheduled liftoff due to several 'launch violations' created by different hazards presented by the inclement weather.

SpaceX began removing propellant from the Falcon 9 rocket right away before 'safing' the emergency escape system and allowing the astronauts to exit the Crew Dragon spacecraft.

The instantaneous launch window reopens at 3:22 p.m. EDT, or 19:22 UTC, with a backup instantaneous launch opportunity available on Sunday, May 31 at 3:00 p.m. EDT, or 19:00 UTC. The launch is again scheduled from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The weather scenario right now seems to indicate a 40% potential for a successful weather window.

Keep in mind that weather hazards are predicated both on the threat to the launch itself as well as the conditions at sea should an inflight abort require a landing by parachute, into the Atlantic Ocean.

Once in orbit, the crew and SpaceX mission control will verify the spacecraft is performing as intended by testing the environmental control and life support systems, the maneuvering thrusters, and thermal control systems, among other things. Crew Dragon will perform a series of phasing maneuvers to position itself for rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station.

Some 19 hours after launch, the crew of Demo-2 is scheduled to complete docking with the ISS.

The spacecraft is designed to do this autonomously but astronauts onboard the spacecraft and the Space Station will be diligently monitoring approach and docking and can take control of the spacecraft if necessary.

Demo-2 is the final major test for SpaceX’s human spaceflight system to be certified by NASA for operational crew missions to and from the International Space Station. SpaceX is returning human spaceflight to the United States with one of the safest, most advanced systems ever built, and NASA’s Commercial Crew Program 'is a turning point for America’s future in space exploration that lays the groundwork for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.'

FMI: www.spacex.com, www.nasa.gov