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SpaceX launch scrubbed minutes before expected takeoff

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the crew capsule Endeavour sits on pad 39A after the launch attempt was scrubbed at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., early Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/John Raoux) John Raoux/AP

SpaceX launch scrubbed minutes before expected takeoff

Jack Birle

February 27, 11:28 AM February 27, 11:28 AM

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The launch of the SpaceX Crew-6 to the International Space Station was scrapped minutes before it was set to lift off on Monday morning.

The scheduled 1:45 a.m. launch was called off with just over two minutes left on the countdown clock due to a ground systems issue.

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NASA said in a release the issue was “preventing data from confirming a full load of the ignition source for the Falcon 9 first stage Merlin engines,” adding that the four-man crew was removed from the spacecraft after the launch was aborted.

“I’m proud of the NASA and SpaceX teams’ focus and dedication to keeping Crew-6 safe,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a release. “Human spaceflight is an inherently risky endeavor and, as always, we will fly when we are ready.”

The scrub is the first time one of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft launches has been called off due to something other than weather-related problems.

The astronauts on the crew of the mission are Stephen Bowen, Warren “Woody” Hoburg, Andrey Fedyaev, and Sultan Alneyadi, and they are expected to perform demonstrations and conduct experiments while aboard the ISS.

NASA and SpaceX now say they aim to launch the mission at 12:34 a.m. on Thursday, pending when the issue with the ground systems is fixed.

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