Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando SentinelThis group of camera operators set up in front of the countdown clock at todays Space X Crew-2 launch at Kennedy Space Center, in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, April 23, 2021. NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, as well as France's Thomas Pesquet and Japan's Akihiko Hoshide flew on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. (Orlando Sentinel Photo/Willie J. Allen Jr.)
Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando SentinelMembers of the press traveled from all over the world to cover todays Space X Crew-2 launch at Kennedy Space Center, in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, April 23, 2021. NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, as well as France's Thomas Pesquet and Japan's Akihiko Hoshide flew on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. (Orlando Sentinel Photo/Willie J. Allen Jr.)
John Raoux/APSpaceX Crew 2 member NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, front, waves as she leaves a news conference with NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, back, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, April 16, 2021 as they prepare for a mission to the International Space Station. The launch is targeted for April 22. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Joe Burbank/Orlando SentinelJapanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide responds during a tarmac Q&A after arriving at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Friday, April 16, 2021, ahead of the SpaceX Crew 2 launch to the International Space Station, scheduled for Thursday, April 22. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
John Raoux / APA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon space capsule lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, April 23, 2021.
GREGG NEWTON / AFP via Getty ImagesA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Crew-2 mission astronauts, lifts off from launch complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 23, 2021. - SpaceX launched its third crew to the International Space Station an hour before sunrise Friday, recycling a rocket and spacecraft for the first time. The Crew-2 mission, the first involving a European, blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 5:49 am Eastern Time.
Joe Burbank/Orlando SentinelFrom left, European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet, NASA astronauts Megan McArthur, Shane Kimbrough, and Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide answer questions after their arrival at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Friday, April 16, 2021, ahead of the SpaceX Crew 2 launch to the International Space Station, scheduled for Thursday, April 22. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
John Raoux/APNASA acting administrator Steve Jurczyk, left and SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk arrive for the walkout of the SpaceX crew before a launch attempt Friday, April 23, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Four astronauts will fly on the SpaceX Crew mission to the International Space Station scheduled for launch on April 23, 2021. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando SentinelSpace X Crew-2 launches into the early morning sky at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Friday, April 23, 2021. This is the first human spaceflight mission to fly astronauts on a flight-proven Falcon 9 and Dragon.
Joe Raedle / Getty ImagesSpaceX Falcon 9 rocket flies to the International Space Station after blasting off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 23, 2021 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 rocket with an international crew of four astronauts in a Crew Dragon capsule to the International Space Station.
Brynn Anderson/APMembers of the SpaceX Crew 2, from left, Thomas Pesquet, of the European Space Agency, NASA astronauts Megan McArthur, Shane Kimbrough, and Akihiko Hoshide, of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, are shown on a video screen as the SpaceX Falcon 9 with the crew Dragon capsule sits on Launch Complex 39A Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Four astronauts will fly on the SpaceX Crew-2 mission to the International Space Station scheduled for launch on April 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
NASA/Joel Kowsky/APIn this Wednesday, April 21, 2021 photo provided by NASA, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard sits on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., at sunset. NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide are scheduled for a Friday launch. (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando SentinelVehicle Assembly Building after the Space X Crew-2 launch at Kennedy Space Center, in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, April 23, 2021. NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, as well as France's Thomas Pesquet and Japan's Akihiko Hoshide flew on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. (Orlando Sentinel Photo/Willie J. Allen Jr.)
Brynn Anderson / APPhotographers watch SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon space capsule lift off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, April 23, 2021.
APThis Sunday, April 18, 2021 photo made available by SpaceX shows, from left, NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide during a dress rehearsal at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., for their Thursday, April 22 launch. For the first time, NASA is putting its trust in a recycled SpaceX rocket and capsule for a crew. (SpaceX via AP)
Brynn Anderson / APIn this long exposure photo, photographers watch a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon space capsule lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, April 23, 2021.
Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando SentinelSpace X Crew-2 launches into the early morning sky leaving a colorful trail of smoke in the sky over Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Friday, April 23, 2021.
John Raoux/APEuropean Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet, of France, left, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide wave as they leave the operations and checkout building before a launch attempt Friday, April 23, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Four astronauts will fly on the SpaceX Crew mission to the International Space Station scheduled for launch on April 23, 2021. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Chris O'Meara/APMembers of the SpaceX Crew 2, from left, Thomas Pesquet, of the European Space Agency, NASA astronauts Megan McArthur, Shane Kimbrough, and Akihiko Hoshide, of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, are shown on a video screen as the SpaceX Falcon 9 with the crew Dragon capsule sits on Launch Complex 39A Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Four astronauts will fly on the SpaceX Crew-2 mission to the International Space Station scheduled for launch on April 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Brynn Anderson/APA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon space capsule boosters are illuminated after lift off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on Friday, April, 23, 2021 in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando SentinelSpace X Crew-2 launches into the early morning sky at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Friday, April 23, 2021. This is the first human spaceflight mission to fly astronauts on a flight-proven Falcon 9 and Dragon.
Brynn Anderson/APA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon space capsule is loaded with fuel getting ready to lift off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, April 23, 2021.
APIn this image made from NASA video, NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough, Megan McArthur, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide are seen in the cockpit of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft after lift off for the Crew-2 mission from Launch Complex 39A, Friday, April 23, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (NASA)
NASA TV/AFP via Getty ImagesThis video grab image courtesy of NASA TV shows (From L) ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet, NASA astronauts Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, inside the capsule at launch pad at Launch Complex 39A ahead of the Crew-2 mission, April 23, 2021, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
SpaceX/APThis undated photo made available by SpaceX in April 2021 shows the crew for its third astronaut launch to the International Space Station, during a training session at the SpaceX training facility in Hawthorne, Calif. From left are mission specialist Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency, pilot Megan McArthur and commander Shane Kimbrough of NASA, and mission specialist Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. (SpaceX via AP)
Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando SentinelSpace X Crew-2 launches into the early morning sky at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Friday, April 23, 2021. This is the first human spaceflight mission to fly astronauts on a flight-proven Falcon 9 and Dragon.
GREGG NEWTON / AFP via Getty ImagesA halo is created in the atmosphere after a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Crew-2 mission astronauts, lifted off from launch complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 23, 2021. - SpaceX launched its third crew to the International Space Station an hour before sunrise Friday, recycling a rocket and spacecraft for the first time. The Crew-2 mission, the first involving a European, blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 5:49 am Eastern Time.
Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando SentinelSpace X Crew-2 launches into the early morning sky at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Friday, April 23, 2021. This is the first human spaceflight mission to fly astronauts on a flight-proven Falcon 9 and Dragon.
John Raoux/APEuropean Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet of France, adjusts his glove as he talks to family and friends before a launch attempt Friday, April 23, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Four astronauts will fly on the SpaceX Crew mission to the International Space Station scheduled for launch on April 23, 2021. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
APThe Crew Dragon space capsule astronauts, from front left; NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough and back row European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide leave the Operation and Checkout Building on their way to board the capsule for a mission to the International Space Station at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, April 23, 2021.
Joe Raedle / Getty ImagesA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 23, 2021 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 rocket with an international crew of four astronauts in a Crew Dragon capsule to the International Space Station.
Joe Burbank/Orlando SentinelFrom left, astronauts Thomas Pesquet, Akihiko Hoshide, Kennedy Space Center director Robert Cabana, astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur walk across the tarmac during their arrival at KSC, Friday, April 16, 2021, ahead of the SpaceX Crew 2 launch to the International Space Station, scheduled for Thursday, April 22. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando SentinelFrench journalist discuss todays Space X Crew-2 launch at Kennedy Space Center, in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, April 23, 2021. NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, as well as France's Thomas Pesquet and Japan's Akihiko Hoshide flew on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. (Orlando Sentinel Photo/Willie J. Allen Jr.)
John Raoux/APJapan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide smiles as he talks to family and friends after leaving the operations and checkout building before a launch attempt Friday, April 23, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Four astronauts will fly on the SpaceX Crew mission to the International Space Station scheduled for launch on April 23, 2021. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
APThe Crew Dragon space capsule astronauts, from front left, European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet, NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide leave the Operation and Checkout Building on their way to board the capsule for a mission to the International Space Station at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, April 23, 2021. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Joe Burbank/Orlando SentinelFrom left, astronauts Thomas Pesquet, Akihiko Hoshide, Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough arrive at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Friday, April 16, 2021, ahead of the SpaceX Crew 2 launch to the International Space Station, scheduled for Thursday, April 22. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
John Raoux/APNASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough waves as he leaves the operations and checkout building before a launch attempt Friday, April 23, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Four astronauts will fly on the SpaceX Crew mission to the International Space Station scheduled for launch on April 23, 2021. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
NASA/Joel Kowsky/APA SpaceX rocket with the company's Dragon capsule is illuminated by spotlights on the launch pad, early Friday, April 23, 2021, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. SpaceX aimed to launch its third crew a little before sunrise Friday, this time using a recycled capsule and rocket. The four astronauts, representing the U.S., Japan and France, were supposed to fly to the International Space Station on Thursday. But liftoff was delayed because of poor weather offshore. (Joel Kowsky/NASA via AP)
GREGG NEWTON / AFP via Getty ImagesThe burner from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Crew-2 mission astronauts, is seen after lifting off from launch complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 23, 2021. - SpaceX launched its third crew to the International Space Station an hour before sunrise Friday, recycling a rocket and spacecraft for the first time. The Crew-2 mission, the first involving a European, blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 5:49 am Eastern Time.
Chris O'Meara/APA SpaceX Falcon 9 lifts off in this time exposure from Launch Complex 39A Friday, April 23, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Four astronauts will fly on the SpaceX Crew-2 mission to the International Space Station.
Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando SentinelSpace X Crew-2 launches into the early morning sky at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Friday, April 23, 2021. This is the first human spaceflight mission to fly astronauts on a flight-proven Falcon 9 and Dragon.
APIn this image made from NASA video, the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft lifts off for the Crew-2 mission carrying NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough, Megan McArthur, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide from Launch Complex 39A, Friday, April 23, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (NASA)
John Raoux/APA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon space capsule lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, April 23, 2021.
Joe Raedle / Getty ImagesCAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - APRIL 23: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket flies to the International Space Station after blasting off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 23, 2021 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 rocket with an international crew of four astronauts in a Crew Dragon capsule to the International Space Station.
Joe Raedle / Getty ImagesSpaceX Falcon 9 rocket leaves a contrail as it flies to the International Space Station after blasting off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 23, 2021 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 rocket with an international crew of four astronauts in a Crew Dragon capsule to the International Space Station.
NASA/Aubrey Gemignani/APIn this Friday, April 16, 2021 photo provided by NASA, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft is rolled to Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Crew-2 mission at NASA's Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide are scheduled to launch Thursday, April 22. For the first time, NASA is putting its trust in a recycled SpaceX rocket and capsule for a crew. (Aubrey Gemignani/NASA via AP)
John Raoux / APA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon space capsule leaves a trail of smoke as it lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, April 23, 2021.
GREGG NEWTON / AFP via Getty ImagesA halo is created in the atmosphere after a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Crew-2 mission astronauts, lifted off from launch complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 23, 2021. - SpaceX launched its third crew to the International Space Station an hour before sunrise Friday, recycling a rocket and spacecraft for the first time. The Crew-2 mission, the first involving a European, blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 5:49 am Eastern Time.
Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel
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This group of camera operators set up in front of the countdown clock at todays Space X Crew-2 launch at Kennedy Space Center, in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, April 23, 2021. NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, as well as France's Thomas Pesquet and Japan's Akihiko Hoshide flew on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. (Orlando Sentinel Photo/Willie J. Allen Jr.)
ExpandBy Richard Tribou | [email protected] | Orlando Sentinel
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Bad weather is putting a hold on the SpaceX Dragon launch from Kennedy Space Center until at least Friday.
NASA said Wednesday unfavorable weather conditions along the flight path were the reason for the one-day delay.
Now NASA and commercial crew partner SpaceX are eyeing 5:49 a.m. Friday for liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Crew Dragon Endeavour with NASA’s Shane Kimbrough, Megan McArthur, Akihiko?Hoshide of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency and Thomas?Pesquet from the European Space Agency.
The Crew-2 mission is the second operational mission of Crew Dragon set to replace the Crew-1 astronauts on board the station. When they arrive, the station’s population will grow to 11 temporarily until the Crew-1 team returns to Earth on board the Crew Dragon Resilience already docked at the ISS.
While weather at KSC was looking good for the original Thursday plans, there are several other locations along the flight path that need to be in the clear in the event there’s a problem with the launch and the Crew Dragon has to abort mid-flight.
At least at the launch site, weather still looks good for Friday, with only a 10% chance of unfavorable conditions in Central Florida, according to the 45th Space Wing Weather Squadron forecast, with liftoff winds as the primary concern. NASA officials said weather conditions are expected to improve along the flight path and recovery area on Friday as well.