New Details: Weather patterns forced postponement of SpaceX launch
NASA and SpaceX team to try again on Saturday - NBC's Jay Gray reports
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (KYMA, KECY/NBC News) - Astronauts received a sign as they were strapped in the Crew Dragon - a tornado watch issued for the area.
The weather did clear as the countdown continued. It just didn't clear up enough. Low clouds and lightning strikes within 12-miles of the launch pad forced the to scrub the mission.
"We continue to violate a number of weather rules that we don't expect to clear up in time for launch today."
For now, history will have to wait.
"Go for 5.100 launch scrubbed."
Clouds and rain kept the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on the ground for at least another two days. The next launch attempt is scheduled for the weekend.
"It was good effort by the teams and we understand."
When the mission does take flight, it will be the first manned American-made spacecraft to liftoff from U.S. soil in almost 9-years. It ushers in a new era of space exploration.
"We're building to this public private partnership on this grand scale of going back to the moon and then ultimately going to Mars is. It's an extremely exciting time right now to be in the, the space business." said astronaut Doug Hurley
That business is "looking up" in spite of today's delay.
The next available window opens Saturday at 12:22 p.m. local time. The early forecast shows the mission a 60% go.
Stay with KYMA.com for continuing coverage of this historic mission.
