For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL – A ‘minor medical issue’ affecting one of the four multinational crew members has forced NASA to again postpone the launch of the SpaceX Crew-3 astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS) – in this case to no earlier than (NET) Saturday, Nov. 6, the agency announced late today.
Liftoff had already been reset to the wee hours of Wednesday early morning, Nov. 3 – skipping the hoped for Halloween treat liftoff Sunday, Oct. 31 -due to poor downrange weather invading the northern Atlantic Ocean with a “large storm system elevating winds and waves” along the trajectory where the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule would fly and have to abort in case of a launch emergency problem with the rocket.
NASA said the medical issue was not an emergency and not related to the Covid-19 pandemic. The agency also did not identify which of the four astronaut crew members from America and Germany was involved.
“NASA is delaying the upcoming launch of the agency’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission due to a minor medical issue involving one of its crew members,” NASA officials said in a Nov. 1 blog post .
“The issue is not a medical emergency and not related to COVID-19. The launch to the International Space Station was planned for Wednesday, Nov. 3.”
A firm new launch date has not been set – pending a resolution of the ‘minor medical issue’ with one of the crew members.
The earlier opportunity for the NASA SpaceX Crew-3 launch is 11:36 p.m. EDT, Saturday, Nov. 6 (0336 GMT on Nov. 7) on a recycled SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon astronaut ferry ship to the orbiting research laboratory.
LAUNCH UPDATE: NASA's @SpaceX #Crew3 mission is now targeted to launch no earlier than 11:36pm ET on Saturday, Nov. 6. More details: https://t.co/Er24kxqlK5 pic.twitter.com/CLcPxBafbc
— NASA (@NASA) November 1, 2021
“Teams will continue to monitor crew health as they evaluate potential launch opportunities at the end of the week. The earliest possible opportunity for launch is 11:36 p.m. EDT Saturday, Nov. 6.”
The multinational Crew-3 team comprising NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, and Kayla Barron, along with ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer from Germany, landed at the Launch and Landing Facility (formerly the SLF Shuttle Landing Facility on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 26 aboard a NASA Gulfstream jet at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center after departing from their Texas training base via Ellington Field near the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
They will launch on the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft and its recycled Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida.
NASA reported “the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket are in good shape and will remain at Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy.”
The Crew-3 astronauts will become the third crew to fly a full-duration six-month long science mission to the orbiting laboratory on a SpaceX Crew Dragon – and the 5th human spaceflight overall on a SpaceX Crew Dragon.
The Crew-3 astronauts will become the third crew to fly a full-duration six-month long science mission to the orbiting laboratory on a SpaceX Crew Dragon – and the 5th human spaceflight overall on a SpaceX Crew Dragon.
With the continuing launch delays NASA is evaluating whether a direct on orbit handover from the Crew-2 astronauts already on board to the Crew-3 astronauts is still possible.
Crew-2 may have to depart before Crew-3 arrives.
The SpaceX Crew Dragon from Crew-2 is nearing the end of its certified time in orbit.
“NASA also will continue to evaluate dates for a return to Earth for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 mission with NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet.”
“Mission teams are reviewing options including both direct and indirect handovers for the upcoming crew rotation at the microgravity laboratory. Teams will review all options for safely launching and returning crew members and continue the agency’s important work on the International Space Station.”
Chari, Maurer, and Barron will all be flying as rookies on their first spaceflight each and are designated as astronauts 599, 600 and 601.
Matthias Maurer from Germany will enjoy the distinction of being the 600th human to reach space when he launches on Halloween with the Crew-3 quartet.
Chari will be the 599th and Barron will be the 601st person to reach space since 1961 when Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human into space reaching orbit at the dawn of the Space Age.
Maurer’s mission is named Cosmic Kiss. The mission’s name “is a declaration of love for space, for the Space Station as a link between humanity and the cosmos and for what people there do and will do in the future. At the same time, it stands for the value of exploring space in partnership, and for the respectful and sustainable treatment of Earth.”
The 51-year old Maurer, born in the German state of Saarland in Sanky Wendel, will conduct over 100 experiments – including 36 with involvement from German researchers in a range of diverse fields including biology life sciences, materials science, physics, biology, medicine and Earth observation.
Ken’s photos of the static fire test were featured on WKMG CBS 6 Orlando TV News
Ken is onsite at KSC for the Crew-3 mission launch campaign
Watch Ken’s continuing reports about SpaceX Crew and Cargo Dragons, Artemis, SLS, Orion and NASA missions, Lucy Asteroid mission, Blue Origin and Space Tourism, SpaceX Starlink, Commercial Crew and Starliner and Crew Dragon and onsite for live reporting of upcoming and recent SpaceX and ULA launches including Crew 1 & 2 & 3, ISS, Solar Orbiter, Mars 2020 Perseverance and Curiosity rovers, NRO spysats and national security missions and more at the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Stay tuned here for Ken’s continuing Earth and Planetary science and human spaceflight news: www.kenkremer.com –www.spaceupclose.com – twitter @ken_kremer – email: ken at kenkremer.com
Dr. Kremer is a research scientist and journalist based in the KSC area, active in outreach and interviewed regularly on TV and radio about space topics.
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