SpaceX's Crew-8 astronauts delayed departure from ISS due to bad weather

SpaceX's Crew-8 six-month stay was marked by more than 200 scientific experiments and technology demonstrations
Members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission: (from right to left) NASA astronauts Jeanette Epps, mission specialist; Matthew Dominick, commander; Michael Barratt, pilot; and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin. — NASA
Members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission: (from right to left) NASA astronauts Jeanette Epps, mission specialist; Matthew Dominick, commander; Michael Barratt, pilot; and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin. — NASA

SpaceX's Crew-8 astronauts have to wait longer to begin their journey home to Earth after unfavourable weather conditions at their splashdown site postponed their departure from the International Space Station (ISS).

NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Russia's Alexander Grebenkin, comprised the Crew-8 mission scheduled for an undocking from the ISS on Sunday, October 13.

The Crew-8 mission launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on March 3, reaching the ISS two days later. The six-month stay was marked by more than 200 scientific experiments and technology demonstrations in microgravity.

The study was designed to take the first crewed mission to deep space. It is well aligned with NASA's purposes in its Artemis program.

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"Teams would continue to monitor weather conditions for the next available undocking opportunity," SpaceX said. The next weather briefing is today October 14.

NASA prioritises crew safety first, which has indicated that every launch is "white-knuckle time." According to Administrator Bill Nelson, "It's risky business. We never want to get into the frame of mind that it's so routine that it's like getting in your car and taking a Sunday afternoon drive."

SpaceX's Commercial Crew Program

Crew-8 is the 13 crewed and eighth operational flight for SpaceX for NASA. To date, the company has sent 50 people to orbit, which makes this its fifth mission with the Endeavour capsule.