First Private Manned Spacecraft Launch May Be Delayed Due to Weather... "Lightning Possible on the Day"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] There are speculations that the first launch of the U.S. space exploration company 'SpaceX' could be delayed due to weather issues.

According to U.S. local media on the 24th (local time), the manned capsule 'Crew Dragon' scheduled to launch on the 27th may be postponed due to weather conditions such as clouds and rain. According to the U.S. Space Force, the probability that weather conditions will be suitable for launch on that day is expected to be only 40%. If the launch is delayed, the Crew Dragon launch will be postponed to the 30th.

The Crew Dragon is scheduled to be launched on a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. If there is rain, clouds, or lightning on that day, it could disrupt the Falcon 9 rocket launch. In the past, lightning struck a manned space rocket, causing sensors and other equipment to malfunction.

For the rocket to launch safely, there must be no clouds capable of producing lightning within 16 km of the launch site, nor cumulus clouds below 0 degrees Celsius.

This launch is attracting extraordinary attention in many ways. It is the first time a private company, not the government, is transporting astronauts to space, and it is the first time since the space shuttle program ended in 2011 that American astronauts will be launched from American soil on an American rocket. Because of this, U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are expected to attend the event.

Crew mission director Benji Reed said in a briefing, "We will not launch until we are ready."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.