NASA adjusts Crew-5 launch date due to Hurricane Ian

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September 27, 2022

The Dragon Endurance spacecraft for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission arrives at the hangar at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A. (Photo/SpaceX)

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — The Artemis I launch isn’t the only NASA mission that has been delayed by the approach of Hurricane Ian.

The space agency announced today the launch of the SpaceX mission to the International Space Station will be no earlier than Oct. 4. The Crew-5 mission’s backup opportunity is Oct. 5.

The Dragon Endurance spacecraft is mated to the Falcon 9 rocket and secured inside SpaceX’s hangar at Launch Complex 39A, NASA said.

Kennedy Space Center is also making preparations to secure other property and infrastructure, including the Artemis I moon rocket which arrived inside the Vehicle Assembly Building this morning.

After the storm progresses, teams from NASA and SpaceX will evaluate the potential impacts to the center and determine whether to adjust the mission timeline further.

Undocking of the agency’s Crew-4 mission from the space station will move day-for-day along with the Crew-5 launch date to allow a planned five-day direct handover between crews.

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