In this January 17, 2020 photo made available by SpaceX, NASA astronauts Bob Behnken, left, and Doug Hurley, wearing SpaceX spacesuits, walk through the Crew Access Arm connecting the launch tower to the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft during a dress rehearsal at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. For their May 27, 2020 mission, Hurley will be in charge of launch and landing and Behnken will oversee rendezvous and docking at the International Space Station.
It just wasn’t meant to happen. As early as last night there were rumors that the weather might put a hold on the first mission since 2011 when the U.S. transported astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). As the countdown began there was cautious optimism that the clouds, wind and threat of lightning would provide a perfect window long enough for the Dragon to transport NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, to the ISS, but with just 16 minutes remaining the no go was announced.
Air Force One, carrying U.S. President Donald Trump, flies past Launch Complex 39A. Image credit: NASA TV
Following is from Tuesday….
NASA and SpaceX launch managers on Monday gave a “go” for the Demo-2 mission, the first launch of NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, on an American rocket from American soil since the last space shuttle mission in 2011.
Launch of the mission, dubbed Launch America, is scheduled for 4:33 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 27. NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, are described as classmates and friends, who are veteran spacefliers that are married to veteran spacefliers, and both are fathers of young sons.
“This is a unique moment where all of America can take a moment and look at our country do something stunning again,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a press briefing on Tuesday.