Science
NASA and SpaceX delay Crew-13 launch following Dragon spacecraft leak
Engineers discovered an oxidizer leak in the spacecraft's propulsion system during routine prelaunch processing.
The short version
- The launch of the Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station has been postponed to allow teams to investigate a propulsion system leak.
- Engineers identified the issue, specifically an oxidizer leak, during routine prelaunch spacecraft processing.
- A new target launch date will be determined and announced once testing, data reviews, and necessary repairs are completed.
Key facts
- NASA and SpaceX delayed the Crew-13 launch after detecting an oxidizer leak in the propulsion system of the Dragon spacecraft.[ScienceDaily]
- The four-person Crew-13 includes NASA commander Jessica Watkins, NASA pilot Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov.[ScienceDaily]
- The crew will join Expedition 75 on the International Space Station after launching on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.[ScienceDaily]
What remains uncertain
- The revised target launch date for the Crew-13 mission remains unscheduled as engineering assessments and repairs continue.[ScienceDaily]
Sources
- NASA delays Crew-13 launch after leak found on SpaceX DragonScienceDaily - Science