Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

NASA

SpaceX and NASA’s historic launch scrubbed as a result of weather

By James Rogers Fox News
Published | Updated
close
Neil Cavuto previews SpaceX, NASA gearing up for historic launch Video

Neil Cavuto previews SpaceX, NASA gearing up for historic launch

SpaceX prepares to launch 2 NASA astronauts in first manned mission; ‘Your World’ anchor Neil Cavuto joins ‘America’s Newsroom.’

SpaceX and NASA’s historic launch was scrubbed Wednesday as a result of weather conditions.

Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken were scheduled to launch at 4:33 p.m. EDT on May 27 from Kennedy Space Center’s launch pad 39A, which was also used for the Apollo and space shuttle programs. The launch was called off at just 16 minutes and 54 seconds before the launch time.

The mission had an instantaneous launch window, which meant that the flight was scheduled to launch exactly at 4:33 p.m. with no potential to extend the window.

SPACEX, NASA, ASTRONAUTS MAKING FINAL PREPARATIONS: 'WE'RE GO FOR LAUNCH'

The weather violations included natural lightning and the strength of the electric field in the atmosphere.

"Standing down from launch today due to unfavorable weather in the flight path," tweeted SpaceX.

"Thank you to @NASA and @SpaceX for their hard work and leadership. Look forward to being back with you on Saturday!," tweeted President Donald Trump, who was at Kennedy Space Center for the launch.

Vice President Mike Pence, who is chairman of the National Space Council, was also at Kennedy Space Center Wednesday and will be returning with President Trump for Saturday's launch.

"No launch for today - safety for our crew members @Astro_Doug  and @AstroBehnken is our top priority," tweeted NASA  Administrator Jim Bridenstine.

The launch would have been the first time a private company, rather than a national government, sent astronauts into orbit. It would also have been the first time that astronauts have launched since U.S. soil since the final Space Shuttle mission in 2011.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The next launch attempt will be on Saturday at 3:22 p.m. EDT.

Fox News' John Roberts and The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers