SpaceX and NASA have confirmed that tomorrow"s Crew Dragon launch is a go after the spacecraft officially passed the final flight readiness review. The spacecraft will launch atop the Falcon 9 rocket with astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley on board who will be making a trip to the International Space Station (ISS).
.@NASA and @SpaceX are "go" for launch following today’s Launch Readiness Review for the Crew Dragon test flight targeted for May 27.
— NASA Commercial Crew (@Commercial_Crew) May 26, 2020
The U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron predicted a 60% chance of unfavorable weather. However, things are looking up: https://t.co/5wJ0H8xTMW pic.twitter.com/BxR0XPEXZa
NASA and SpaceX gave the go-ahead after successfully completing the pre-launch flight checks. These include a dress rehearsal, strapping Hurley and Behnken into the rocket, and a full-length static test fire of the Falcon 9’s engines.
However, weather conditions on Wednesday will prove to be a linchpin for the exact launching time. If things go according to plan, SpaceX"s Crew Dragon will lift off on the Falcon 9 rocket Kennedy Space Center in Florida from Launch Complex 39A on May 27, Wednesday (May 27) at 04:33 PM EDT (20:33 GMT).
But the conditions are only 40% favorable for a launch attempt on schedule for Wednesday as of now. Having said that, there are two alternative launch windows available on May 30 and May 31, respectively.
The historic launch will be the first time that astronauts launch from American soil after the discontinuation of the space shuttle program back in 2011. It will also be the first human spaceflight for SpaceX"s Crew Dragon, which is a part of NASA"s Commercial Crew Program. Finally, it is also slated to be the 3rd vehicle ever to deliver crew members to the orbiting laboratory after the Space Shuttle and the Russian Soyuz space capsule.