File-From left to right, Astronaut Thomas Peske of Europe, Astronaut Megan McArthur of NASA, Astronaut Shane Kimbro of NASA, and Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Bureau, on Friday, Florida. Depart from the Operation and Checkout Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. April 23, 2021. Strong winds off the Florida coast delayed SpaceX’s return of the four astronauts. They left the International Space Station on Sunday, November 7, 2021, and capsules splattered into the Gulf of Mexico on Monday morning. (AP Photo / John Raoux, file)
Cape Canaveral, Florida (AP) —Strong winds off the Florida coast delayed SpaceX’s return of four space station astronauts to orbit from spring.
Astronauts from the United States, France, and Japan should have left the International Space Station on Sunday and capsules would be scattered in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday morning. However, as the gust exceeded safety limits, SpaceX hit its departure on Monday afternoon and returned at night to complete its six-month mission.
Fortunately, their return home lasts eight hours, less than half of what it was before. The toilet in the capsule is broken, so the four need to rely on diapers when they go home.
SpaceX aims to launch a replacement as early as Wednesday night. The flight has also been delayed due to bad weather and undisclosed medical problems with astronauts. The issue, described as a minor, should be resolved by launch time, officials said.
Last week, SpaceX and NASA swapped launch and landing orders due to bad weather and the impending deadline for reclaiming capsules from the space station. SpaceX capsules have been certified in orbit for up to 210 days, and the capsules are now approaching 200 days.
The Associated Press’s Department of Health Sciences is supported by the Department of Science Education at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. AP is solely responsible for all content.
Strong winds delay SpaceX crew members returning to the air for six months
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