NASA and SpaceX delays Crew-8 mission return due to Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton delays launch of Europa Clipper spacecraft, which was set to launch Falcon Heavy rocket on October 10 (Thursday)
An undated image of NASA SpaceX Crew-8 mission. — NASA
An undated image of NASA SpaceX Crew-8 mission. — NASA

NASA and SpaceX extended the stay of four astronauts on the Crew-8 mission due to a threat from Hurricane Milton, which was initially targeted for departure from the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday morning but a category 5 storm is likely to expand in size, posing a great threat to splashdown operations. 

The undocking has been already delayed several times and this time has been pushed back to October 13 (Sunday). However, NASA and SpaceX are diligently monitoring the storm to ensure the safe return of the astronauts.

Read more: NASA's Europa Clipper launch delayed

NASA top officials said that "NASA and SpaceX now are targeting no earlier than 3:05 a.m. EDT Sunday, Oct. 13, for the undocking of the Crew-8 mission from the International Space Station due to weather conditions and potential impacts from Hurricane Milton across the Florida peninsula. Mission managers continue to monitor conditions, with the next weather briefing planned for 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 11."

Crew-8’s departure began after the arrival of SpaceX's Crew-9 mission on September 29, which was also influenced by Hurricane Helene, and extended its launch from Florida's Atlantic coast's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station by two days.

Furthermore, Hurricane Milton has not only disrupted the Crew-8, but due to its threat NASA and SpaceX extended the launch of the $5 billion Europa Clipper spacecraft, which was initially set to launch a Falcon Heavy rocket on October 10 (Thursday).