Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended

Nasa SpaceX launch - as it happened: Historic liftoff cancelled moments before takeoff over weather

Andrew Griffin
Wednesday 27 May 2020 09:02 EDT
Comments
SpaceX promo video for first crewed mission

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Nasa has postponed its first launch of astronauts from US soil in nine years due to bad weather, just minutes before lift-off.

Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley were due to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) on a rocket and capsule system built by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's firm SpaceX.

But with rain and thunderstorms looming, the launch date has now been moved to Saturday at 20:22 pm UK time.

An estimated 1.7 million people from around the world tuned in to the launch from The Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

However, as the weather conditions became worse, the US space agency "scrubbed" the mission for safety reasons less than 17 minutes before the Falcon 9 rocket was due to take off, along with the Crew Dragon spacecraft.

Please allow a moment for the live blog to load

Here are the astronauts getting suited up. They have new suits – those futuristic ones designed by SpaceX – but they've also got special new seats, which are essentially recreations of the ones they'll get plugged into onboard the crew capsule.

As well as being an outfit, the suit include communications and pressurisation, if needed. That latter technology will be tested shortly, when the suits will be pressurised to ensure they are working as they should be.

Andrew Griffin27 May 2020 17:47

Elon Musk, SpaceX founder, and Jim Bridenstine, Nasa administrator, have come to visit the astronauts before they set off.

Andrew Griffin27 May 2020 17:54

SpaceX are talking about the process of making their spacesuit. They describe it as a "suit-seat system" – the suit plugs into the umbilical, which is attached to the seat. Through that umbilical comes everything it needs: electronic communications, air to cool it, gas to pressurise it.

Andrew Griffin27 May 2020 18:00

Sounds like things are looking up in terms of weather. SpaceX is anticipating "acceptable weather for launch", and "things are looking good". "The weather is co-operating."

Weather balloons have been launched, which will provide further information about the conditions higher up in the atmosphere.

Andrew Griffin27 May 2020 18:06

Kelly Clarkson is performing the Us national anthem – virtually, from home.

While she sings we can see the big countdown clock, which usually would be surrounded by people getting ready to watch, but today is deserted.

Andrew Griffin27 May 2020 18:10

There's Mike Pence, Vice President, as well as Musk and Bridenstine, who are in front of the Teslas that will carry them to the rocket.

You can read more about those cars here.

Andrew Griffin27 May 2020 18:15

The astronauts have now climbed into those Teslas. The two astronauts are being buckled and connected into the Tesla, which includes the same umbilicals that will keep them cool in the same way when they're actually in the capsule.

Andrew Griffin27 May 2020 18:17

The astronauts – and the rest of the convoy of security staff and more – are still continuing on that long drive launchpad. They've just a few miles left until they arrive. (They're getting close enough that they're entering the blast area, where they would be in danger if the rocket were to take off, so SpaceX and Nasa have to take a number of precautions as they arrive.)

Andrew Griffin27 May 2020 18:29

And they've arrived, at Pad 39A, the launchpad that has served as home for rocket launches since the Apollo programme. The astronauts will freshen up and then head up towards the capsule at the top of the rocket.

Andrew Griffin27 May 2020 18:37

The astronauts have headed into the elevator to take them all the way up to the top of the rocket. Then they'll go through the crew arm, and into the capsule at the top.

Andrew Griffin27 May 2020 18:43

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in