Unfavorable Weather Forces SpaceX to Push Back Polaris Dawn Launch from Kennedy Space Center
By Space Coast Daily // August 27, 2024
coverage of the launch can be seen on Space Coast Daily TV
The Polaris Dawn mission, a commercial spaceflight backed by American billionaire Jared Isaacman, will attempt the first private spacewalk.
BREVARD COUNTY • KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLORIDA – SpaceX announced Thursday that due to unfavorable weather forecasted in the area off the coast of Florida, the launch team is standing down. Once teams identify the next best opportunity for launch and return of the Polaris Dawn mission, they will provide an update. Falcon 9 and Dragon remain healthy and vertical on the pad at 39A
Teams will continue to monitor weather for favorable launch and return conditions.
The Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission previously flew Crew-1 to and from the International Space Station, and Inspiration4, the first all-civilian mission to orbit.
This will be the fourth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-8 and two Starlink missions.
Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
During their multi-day mission to orbit, Dragon and the crew will endeavor to reach the highest Earth orbit ever flown since the Apollo program and participate in the first-ever extravehicular activity (EVA) by commercial astronauts wearing SpaceX-developed EVA suits.
They will also conduct 36 research studies and experiments from 31 partners designed to advance both human health on Earth and during long-duration spaceflight, and test Starlink laser-based communications in space.
The Polaris Dawn crew will combine their expertise, knowledge, and passion for spaceflight to further human space exploration.
This will be the first human spaceflight for Mission Pilot Kidd Poteet, Mission Specialist Sarah Gillis, and Mission Specialist and Medical Officer Anna Menon.
Mission Commander Jared Isaacman previously flew to space as commander of Inspiration4.
This will also be the first time two SpaceX employees will be part of a human spaceflight crew, providing valuable insight to future missions on the road to making life multiplanetary.
Coverage of the launch can be seen on Space Coast Daily TV.
