SpaceX has delayed its 34th commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station after weather conditions forced a scrub from Cape Canaveral. The launch, originally scheduled for Friday, was called off due to high winds and thunderstorm activity in the area, according to NASA officials. The mission was set to carry critical scientific equipment and supplies to the orbiting laboratory, where seven crew members are currently stationed. The next attempt is expected to be rescheduled within the next 24 hours, pending improved weather forecasts.
The mission would have marked the first launch of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from the Space Coast this year. The Dragon spacecraft, which would have carried over 6,000 pounds of cargo, was prepared for liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. Weather monitoring systems detected sustained winds exceeding 25 mph and the potential for lightning, prompting the delay. NASA and SpaceX teams are now reviewing data to determine the earliest possible launch window.
The International Space Station crew, including NASA astronauts Chris Cassidy, Jessica Meir, and Jack Hathaway, has been preparing for the arrival of the spacecraft. The crew, which also includes ESA astronaut Sophie Adnode and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Korsunov and Andrey Fedyaev, will receive the cargo next week after the mission is rescheduled. The Dragon spacecraft was expected to dock at the station around 7:35 a.m. Eastern time on Saturday, but that timeline is now uncertain.
This is the second time this year that SpaceX has postponed a resupply mission due to weather. The company has faced similar delays in February during a launch from the same pad. Mission managers emphasized that the safety of the crew and the integrity of the spacecraft are the top priorities. No specific date has been announced for the next launch attempt, but officials said they are working to minimize delays.