SpaceX and NASA have pushed back the launch of its Crew-12 mission for the second time this week, citing weather concerns along the ascent corridor the rocket will follow on its path to orbit.

Mission planners are now targeting no earlier than 5:15 AM ET on Friday, February 13th, for liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. According to NASA, mission teams completed a weather review Tuesday morning and waived off the Thursday, February 12th, launch opportunity “due to forecast weather conditions along Crew-12’s flight path.”

Astronauts Remain At Kennedy Space Center

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev remain in quarantine at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as they await the new launch window. If Crew-12 lifts off as planned on February 13, the spacecraft is expected to arrive at the International Space Station at approximately 3:15 p.m. Saturday, February 14th.

The Crew Dragon capsule assigned to the mission is a seasoned vehicle, having previously flown on the Crew-4, Axiom-2, Axiom-3, and Crew-9 missions. The Falcon 9 first stage is making its second trip to orbit, having previously launched a batch of Starlink satellites. After stage separation, the booster is expected to touch down at Landing Zone 40 at Cape Canaveral.

Once aboard the station, the crew will carry out a slate of research experiments aimed at advancing preparations for deep-space human exploration while also delivering scientific benefits closer to home.

USSF-87 Launch Is Now Deconflicted

Yesterday, we reported that United Launch Alliance and NASA/SpaceX both had launches scheduled for Thursday, with planned T-0 times about two hours apart. With the shift in the Crew 12 plans, Vulcan USSF-87 now has the range on Thursday before a shift back to Crew 12 on Friday.

Vulcan can now launch without issue, as it has a different trajectory and flight rules from a human-carrying Crew 12. United Launch Alliance reported today that the early Launch Mission Execution Forecast indicates a 95% chance of acceptable weather during the launch window, and that plans remain in place for the Vulcan to lift off during a 3:30 am – 5:30 am ET launch window.