A four-person team will launch aboard the Crew Dragon atop the Falcon 9 to the International Space Station. Crew 3 is the 3rd team rotation flight to the space station for NASAs Commercial Crew Program, and the very first flight of a new Crew Dragon spacecraft.
NASA is postponing the upcoming launch of the firms SpaceX Crew-3 mission due to a minor medical concern including one of its team members. The problem is not a medical emergency situation and not related to COVID-19. The launch to the International Space Station was prepared for Wednesday, November 3.
The company takes every effort to secure the crew prior to its launch through a health stabilization plan. Crew-3 astronauts will stay in quarantine at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida while getting ready for their launch.
Groups will continue to monitor team health as they examine potential launch chances at the end of the week. The earliest possible chance for launch is 11:36 p.m. EDT Saturday, November 6.
A close-up view of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket vertical with the Crew Dragon atop for the Crew-3 mission at Launch Pad 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida during daybreak on October 28, 2021. In view is the crew access arm. A four-person crew will release aboard the Crew Dragon atop the Falcon 9 to the International Space Station. Crew 3 is the third team rotation flight to the area station for NASAs Commercial Crew Program, and the very first flight of a new Crew Dragon spacecraft.
SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts (from left) Matthias Maurer, Thomas Marshburn, Raja Chari and Kayla Barron pose for a picture during preflight training at SpaceX head office in Hawthorne, California. Credit: SpaceX
The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket remain in good condition and will stay at Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy.
The Crew-3 flight will bring NASA astronauts Raja Chari, objective leader; Tom Marshburn, pilot; and Kayla Barron, mission professional; as well as ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, who will serve as a mission specialist, to the area station for a six-month science mission, staying aboard till late April 2022.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the companys Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Crew-3 objective, Sunday, October 31, 2021, at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky
This is the third team rotation mission with astronauts on the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and the 4th flight with astronauts, including the Demo-2 test flight, as part of the companys Commercial Crew Program.
NASA also will continue to examine dates for a go back to Earth for NASAs SpaceX Crew-2 objective 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 groups are evaluating choices consisting of both direct and indirect handovers for the upcoming team rotation at the microgravity laboratory. Groups will review all options for safely returning and launching crew members and continue the firms crucial deal with the International Space Station.
