NASA's Crew-12 Mission Launch Postponed Again Due to Weather Concerns
The launch timing for NASA's Crew-12 mission has been shifted once more, following the cancellation of an earlier attempt this week due to unfavorable weather conditions along the ascent path. Teams are now targeting no earlier than 5:15 am EST on Friday, February 13, for liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Weather Review Leads to Delay Decision
The decision to postpone came after a routine weather review, which identified unsuitable conditions in parts of the flight corridor over the Atlantic Ocean. While forecasts at the launch site itself remain largely favorable, with an 85 percent favorable rating, mission managers opted to stand down rather than proceed. The primary concern was elevated winds along the Atlantic Coast, not issues at the pad, with cumulus clouds posing the main local challenge.
Mission Details and Crew Information
This flight will send four astronauts to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, continuing NASA's Commercial Crew partnership with SpaceX. Crew-12 marks the twelfth crew rotation mission conducted by SpaceX to the ISS and the thirteenth crewed flight under NASA's Commercial Crew Program. The launch will utilize a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40.
The crew includes:
- Jessica Meir (NASA astronaut) as commander
- Jack Hathaway (NASA astronaut) as pilot
- Sophie Adenot (European Space Agency astronaut)
- Andrey Fedyaev (Roscosmos cosmonaut)
These astronauts have been in quarantine at Kennedy Space Center since February 6, adhering to standard health protocols before launch. The mission is planned for an eight-month stay aboard the orbiting laboratory, supporting ongoing research and maintenance work in low Earth orbit.
Launch Readiness and Future Plans
NASA and SpaceX officials conducted a Launch Readiness Review, polling to proceed with the mission once weather constraints ease. This review is the final major step before launch. If the February 13 launch proceeds as scheduled, docking at the ISS is expected at approximately 3:15 pm EST on Saturday, February 14.
NASA will provide live coverage of the launch in the early hours, streaming on platforms such as NASA+, Amazon Prime, and YouTube. For now, teams continue to monitor wind maps and cloud layers, with the rocket remaining in place at the launch site.
