Just minutes after its official launch, teams at SpaceX and NASA suspended Crew-6 ‘s flight to investigate a data issue
NASA and SpaceX suspended this Monday the launch of the Crew-6 mission , with 4 crew members, to the International Space Station , which has been postponed until at least March 2.
With two minutes and 12 seconds to liftoff, the mission teams made the decision to suspend the launch to investigate an issue that prevented the data from confirming a full charge of the ignition source of the Falcon rocket’s first stage Merlin engines. 9, triethylaluminum triethylboron (or TEA-TEB).
“I am proud of the focus and dedication of the NASA and SpaceX teams in maintaining the safety of Crew -6,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement. “Human spaceflight is an inherently risky undertaking and, as always, we will fly when we are ready.”
Launch Update: Today’s #Crew6 launch has been scrubbed due to an issue with ground systems. Stand by for details on a new launch date and time. https://t.co/149FPqMrnu pic.twitter.com/1PSYsjCGpL
— NASA (@NASA) February 27, 2023
Everyone is safe and sound
SpaceX has removed propellant from the Falcon 9 rocket and astronauts have exited the Dragon spacecraft to head to the astronaut crew quarters . Both the Falcon 9 and Dragon are in a secure configuration.
NASA and SpaceX will forfeit a launch opportunity on Tuesday, February 28 due to forecast unfavorable weather conditions .
The next available launch attempt will be on Thursday, March 2, pending the resolution of the technical issue that prevented Monday’s launch.
Crew -6 includes NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen, a veteran of three space shuttle missions, and first-time flyer Warren Hoburg, as well as Sultan Alneyadi, who will be the second astronaut from the United Arab Emirates to travel into space, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. (Europe Press)