New SpaceX Launch Date Set After Sultan Al Neyadi Mission Postponed
Nasa has set a new launch date for the SpaceX rocket carrying Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi after Monday’s blast-off was postponed. The Crew-6 mission from Cape Canaveral to the International Space Station is provisionally scheduled for 9:34 am UAE time on Thursday, March 2.
The mission on Monday was called off at 10:42 am UAE time — two and a half minutes before the Falcon 9 rocket’s engines were due to ignite. Nasa and SpaceX said there was an issue with ground systems, which they are investigating. Officials said the weather in Florida on Tuesday is not expected to be favourable, hence the delay.
The new launch plan is subject to the technical issues being resolved, the space agency said. Engineers have a narrow window for missions to ensure that the rocket has a short and safe journey from Earth to ISS, which is 400km above sea level.
The crew of four — Russia’s Andrey Fedyaev, Nasa’s Warren Hoburg and Stephen Bowen, and Dr Al Neyadi — remained on the rocket for about two hours after the launch was called off, or “scrubbed” in Nasa terms, while fuel was pumped out.
They safely got off the Dragon capsule that is attached to the rocket.
