SpaceX scrubs historic Polaris Dawn launch due to unfavorable reentry weather

By James Rogers

SpaceX has scrubbed Wednesday's launch of the private Polaris Dawn mission and backup launch opportunities on Thursday

Elon Musk's SpaceX has scrubbed the first launch of the private Polaris Program, citing weather conditions for the astronauts' return to Earth.

"Due to unfavorable weather forecasted in Dragon's splashdown areas off the coast of Florida, we are now standing down from tonight and tomorrow's Falcon 9 launch opportunities of Polaris Dawn," SpaceX wrote on X, formerly Twitter, late Tuesday. "Teams will continue to monitor weather for favorable launch and return conditions."

The Polaris Dawn launch, the first of three human spaceflights, had been scheduled for 3:38 a.m. Eastern Time Wednesday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida with backup launch opportunities later on Wednesday morning and early Thursday.

Related: Elon Musk's SpaceX pushes historic Polaris Dawn launch to Wednesday

The debut Polaris mission will undertake the first commercial spacewalk. Polaris Dawn's launch was previously targeted for Aug. 26, and then Aug. 27 while SpaceX resolved a technical issue.

Launching atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, Polaris Dawn will transport four astronauts for 36 experiments into space in a Crew Dragon spacecraft and spend up to five days in orbit.

The Polaris Program is the brainchild of Jared Isaacman, the chief executive of Shift4 Payments Inc. (FOUR). An experienced private astronaut, in 2021 Isaacman commanded the all-civilian Inspiration4 mission operated by SpaceX, which raised over $240 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The Polaris Program is also fundraising for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Related: SpaceX set for historic Polaris Dawn launch, first commercial spacewalk

"Our launch criteria are heavily constrained by forecasted splashdown weather conditions," Isaacman wrote on X late Tuesday. "With no ISS rendezvous and limited life support consumables, we must be absolutely sure of reentry weather before launching."

Isaacman is the Polaris Dawn mission commander. Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Scott Poteet, who was the Inspiration4 flight director, is the Polaris Dawn's mission pilot. Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, lead space-operations engineers at SpaceX, are the Polaris Dawn mission specialists, with Menon also fulfilling the role of medical officer.

"Weather is going to be a challenge given launch and return requirements," wrote Gillis on X. "Scrubbing for the next few launch opportunities, but ready to go once a weather window opens!"

Related: NASA astronauts to return to earth with Elon Musk's SpaceX, Boeing Starliner to come back empty

The third and final mission of the Polaris Program will mark the first human spaceflight on SpaceX's Starship rocket.

Earlier this year SpaceX completed the fourth test flight of its Starship, marking another milestone for the company's giant spacecraft and rocket. The largest rocket ever built, Starship provides more than twice the thrust of NASA's Saturn V rockets that took astronauts to the moon. Together, the Starship spacecraft and the Super Heavy rocket are 396 feet high, taller than the Statue of Liberty or a Saturn V rocket.

This is a busy time for SpaceX. On Saturday NASA announced that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will return to Earth on a SpaceX capsule next February, after the Boeing Co. (BA) Starliner spacecraft that took them to the International Space Station was beset with problems. The Starliner capsule will return uncrewed, NASA said.

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Separately, SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites from Florida early Wednesday. However, the Falcon 9 rocket's first-stage booster tipped over following its touchdown on a droneship floating in the Atlantic Ocean. "Teams are assessing the booster's flight data and status," wrote SpaceX on X.

The launch was the 23rd for the reusable booster, according to SpaceX.

-James Rogers

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08-28-24 0501ET

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