Update 9:27 p.m.: NASA and SpaceX postponed the launch of Crew-8 to 10:53 pm on Sunday, due to poor conditions in the Dragon spacecraft's flight path.
Original story: It's launch day for Crew-8 to blast off to the International Space Station – as long as the weather cooperates!
NASA and SpaceX are targeting 11:16 PM EDT to launch the Falcon 9 rocket carrying the four members of Crew-8 aboard the Dragon Endeavor capsule from pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center.
However, the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron puts the odds of “launch to launch” conditions at just 40%, citing threats of rain, cumulonimbus clouds and a moderate to high risk of bad weather in the ascent corridor.
The Falcon 9 rocket is expected to fly on a northeastern trajectory. The rocket's first stage booster will target landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station 7 minutes and 38 seconds after liftoff, generating sonic booms in Brevard County.
FLORIDA TODAY's space team will link to NASA TV's coverage and provide mission updates beginning at approximately 7:15 p.m. at floridatoday.com/space.
For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space.
Rick Neil He is Florida Today's space correspondent (for more of his stories, click here.) Call Neale at 321-242-3638 or [email protected]. Twitter/X: @Rick Neal1
