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SpaceX rocket takeoff postponed to Saturday due to bad weather

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SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launch was canceled this Wednesday evening due to poor weather conditions. It was to set off around 10:30 p.m. to join the International Space Station (ISS). New test on Saturday evening.

Cancellation of SpaceX rocket takeoff was played for a few minutes this Wednesday evening. At around 10:20 p.m., just 13 minutes before the launch of this mission, the mission director decided to postpone the launch until Saturday evening due to unfavorable weather conditions. “It was a great team effort, but we understand,” said astronaut Doug Hurley, who was already tied up in the Crew Dragon pod with teammate Bob Behnken.

However, everything was ready and the eyes of the whole world were on this event. The hatch had been closed a few minutes ahead of schedule. The rocket was scheduled to take off at 4:33 p.m. (10:33 p.m. French time) to launch towards the International Space Station.

60% chance of canceling the mission

Problem: the weather did not improve until ten minutes after the scheduled start time. She finally got the better of takeoff, as a precaution. All day long, the suspense had lasted whether or not to maintain this mission. A review of the weather forecast gave a 60% chance that the weather would be bad, with risk of thunderstorms.

The National Hurricane Center had announced the formation of a tropical storm off the coast of South Carolina, further north, which could pose a risk to astronauts in the event of an emergency ditching in the Atlantic after takeoff. The next possible takeoff window to coordinate with the International Space Station will take place on Saturday evening. Another test in sight therefore.

LIVE NOW: History is about to be made. Watch as @NASA_Astronauts #LaunchAmerica to the @Space_Station from American soil for the first time in nine years: https://t.co/U1COQzFy4v https://t.co/U1COQzFy4v

– NASA (@NASA) May 27, 2020

Disappointment for President Donald Trump who had traveled from the White House with his wife, Melania, to Cape Canaveral, Florida, to attend this historic launch. If the mission is successful on Saturday evening, it will be the first time that a private builder has sent astronauts to the space station. SpaceX could then give the United States access to the space they lost in 2011 with the stops of the space shuttles.

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