SpaceX has once again delayed the launch of its Polaris Dawn mission, which was supposed to take four private citizens into space, this time citing bad weather forecasts.
The company attributed the postponement to adverse weather conditions off the Florida coast, without specifying whether their main concern was the potential impact on the spacecraft’s water landing in case of an emergency or the safety of the crew during their return home after the five-day journey.
Billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Scott Kidd, and SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon are set to launch early on Wednesday for what will be the first all-civilian crew spacewalk.
Isaacman noted in a post on X that the Polaris Dawn mission will face significant limitations due to the expected splashdown conditions as the capsule will not dock with the International Space Station, and astronauts might have to wait for improved weather conditions.
“With no ISS rendezvous and limited life support supplies, it’s crucial for us to verify re-entry weather conditions before the launch,” he stated.
Alternate launch dates were initially set for Thursday, but SpaceX canceled both launches due to the weather outlook. The company has yet to announce new launch dates.
“The team will continue monitoring the weather for favorable launch and return conditions,” SpaceX shared on X.
An earlier launch attempt on Tuesday was called off after a helium leak was detected on the launch pad.
In addition to attempting the first all-civilian spacewalk, Polaris Dawn aims to reach the highest orbital altitude humans have reached since the final Apollo moon mission in 1972. The mission will also test new spacesuits and other technologies for future long-duration expeditions, potentially providing valuable research to support SpaceX’s long-term goal of launching missions to the Moon and eventually Mars.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
