Sunita Williams’ rescue mission delayed, NASA, SpaceX postpone new crewed mission launch due to tropical storm concern

Los Angeles: NASA and SpaceX have postponed the launch of a new crewed mission to no earlier than Saturday due to tropical storm concern, according to NASA.

The launch was originally planned for Thursday, from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

NASA and SpaceX have adjusted the next launch opportunity to no earlier than 1:17 p.m. Eastern Time Saturday due to expected tropical storm in the launch area.

The mission is being launched with two astronauts and two spare seats for stranded astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Willmore to return in February 2025.

NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will launch on the agency's SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station.

The flight is the ninth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station under NASA's Commercial Crew Programme.

(Inputs from UNI)