NASA Delays SpaceX Crew-12 Launch to Friday

NASA has delayed the launch of its SpaceX Crew-12 mission due to weather concerns along the rocket’s ascent path.

The mission is now scheduled to lift off no earlier than 5:15 am EST on Friday, February 13, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

According to officials, the earlier launch attempt was called off after a routine weather review found unsuitable conditions downrange over parts of the Atlantic Ocean. While weather at the launch site remains largely favourable, elevated winds along the flight corridor prompted mission managers to wait.

Weather Causes Schedule Shift

Forecasts at Cape Canaveral show about 85% favourable conditions. However, cumulus clouds remain a potential concern locally.

The primary issue, officials said, was not at the launch pad but along the rocket’s flight path. As a result, NASA and SpaceX decided to stand down rather than proceed under uncertain conditions.

During the Launch Readiness Review, teams from both NASA and SpaceX gave a “go” for the mission to continue into countdown once weather constraints improve.

About Crew-12 Mission

Crew-12 marks the twelfth crew rotation mission carried out by SpaceX to the International Space Station (ISS) and the thirteenth crewed flight under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

The mission will use a Falcon 9 rocket and a Dragon spacecraft launching from Space Launch Complex 40.

On board will be NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, serving as commander, and Jack Hathaway as pilot. They will be joined by European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.

The four astronauts have been in quarantine at Kennedy Space Center since February 6, following standard health protocols ahead of launch.

The crew is scheduled to spend approximately eight months aboard the ISS as part of the regular rotation that supports scientific research and station maintenance in low Earth orbit.

ISS Docking Timeline

If the launch proceeds as planned on February 13, docking at the International Space Station is expected around 3:15 pm EST on Saturday, February 14.

NASA will begin live launch coverage in the early hours of launch day. The event will be streamed on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and YouTube.

For now, teams continue to monitor wind speeds and cloud patterns closely. The Falcon 9 rocket remains ready at the launch complex as officials await improved weather conditions.

The Crew-12 mission represents another step in NASA’s ongoing partnership with SpaceX to maintain a continuous human presence aboard the ISS.