RETURN TO SPACE

ORLANDO, Fla. – As NASA and SpaceX prepare to launch four astronauts on the first Dragon spacecraft operational mission to the International Space Station, the space agency released the weather criteria that would prevent the Crew-1 mission from launching. This comes after the historic first crewed launch of the Dragon spacecraft earlier this year with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley. SpaceX became the first private company to fly astronauts to orbit. Weather officers will be monitoring both launch and landing conditions throughout the countdown for certain criteria that would cause the launch to be scrubbed for the safety of the astronauts. Below are 14 weather conditions that would prevent the launch from happening.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Get the latest space news delivered right into your email inbox. Just fill out the form below and you will receive ClickOrlando.com’s Return to Space newsletter every Wednesday at 11 a.m.It’s out of this world!

The flag flew on the first space shuttle flight in 1981 and the final one in 2011. The flag was an added incentive for Elon Musk's SpaceX company and Boeing, competing to be the first private company to launch a crew to the space station. The crew will include Chris Ferguson, commander of the last shuttle flight who now works for Boeing. The Dragon capsule, also built and owned by SpaceX, docked at the space station Sunday. The capsule will serve as their lifeboat during their space station visit.

When NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley blasted off Saturday to the International Space Station, they waived goodbye to their wives and children, not knowing when they’ll return back to Earth. Both men are married to fellow astronauts and each have a young son at home waiting for them. Behnken’s son Theo is 6 while Hurley’s son, Jack, is 10. [EXCLUSIVE: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk officially launched humans to space -- here’s what he’s planning next]The veteran astronauts last launched in 2011, before Theo was born and when Jack was only 1 year old. “That was a super cool thing for us to get the chance to do for both of our sons,” Behnken said.

Veteran NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley still had to dock at the International Space Station Sunday morning and Musk said he couldnt rest until they safely arrived. Very much appreciate the support of the Space Coast, all the people in Florida that have helped us get here. Were going to be obviously sending a lot of rockets to the space station and hopefully the moon and Mars from right here, from the Space Coast, Musk said. [Timeline: Heres what NASA astronauts did on launch day]Saturdays flight was just the beginning, Musk hinted. The CEO told News 6 hes planning cargo missions, crewed missions and Starlink satellite missions, expecting to launch every 10 days.

TITUSVILLE, Fla. – UPDATE: Titusville police wrote in a tweet Friday that A. Max Brewer Bridge will remain open for this weekend’s launch. The eastbound and westbound lanes will be closed for one hour after the launch to accommodate for pedestrian traffic. But that’s still yet to be determined if we’re going to allow that.”Elsewhere in Brevard County, there are no immediate changes planned at popular launch viewing locations. "We may have more personnel since we will have more people and traffic," said Brevard County Sheriff's Office spokesman Tod Goodyear. A spokesperson for the Florida Department of Health in Brevard County did not address specific questions about Saturday's anticipated launch crowds, but offered advice on minimizing the spread of the virus.

SpaceX and NASA will possibly try again as soon as Saturday at 3:22 p.m., if the weather cooperates. After launch, Behnken and Hurley are bound for the International Space Station where they will spend one to four months before returning to Earth. But with two days between launch attempts, whats an astronaut to do while they wait to go to space? Heres what SpaceX astronauts listened to on their way to the launch pad]Behnken shared a photo on social media of that new tradition a day before the first SpaceX launch attempt. Between launch days, Lindgren said the astronauts are getting briefings from SpaceX and NASA about the health of the Falcon 9 rocket and the weather.

“Now that they are scrubbed, people are here for a week,” said Ram BK, owner of BK Kayak Adventures. "My businesses is twice as much busy right now," he said with booked kayak tours through the weekend. Down U.S. 1 in Titusville, some of the guests at the Casa Coquina Bed and Breakfast extended their stay through Monday. Across the street at El Leoncito, owner Mike Sanchez said his restaurant was down about 50% in businesses during the pandemic. “For everybody here in town, Titusville is a space shuttle town, it’s a good thing.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – After the first launch attempt was scrubbed, President Donald Trump is planning his second visit to the Space Coast in one week to see SpaceX try again to send NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. Trump, as well as Vice President Mike Pence, were at Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday as SpaceX tried to launch NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley on a Falcon 9 rocket to the ISS aboard the company’s Crew Dragon capsule. pic.twitter.com/4aIGKo39dZ — NASA (@NASA) May 27, 2020Brevard County had seen strong storms leading up to the launch window and even a tornado warning earlier in the day. [UPDATE: Weather scrubs NASA astronaut liftoff from Kennedy Space Center]SpaceX’s next chance to launch the rocket from Kennedy Space Center is Saturday at 3:22 p.m. Trump confirmed in a tweet that he will be in attendance for the second launch attempt. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 27, 2020If Saturday is unsuccessful, a third launch opportunity is Sunday at 3 p.m., according to SpaceX.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. After a nearly nine-year remission, its launch day for NASA astronauts from Kennedy Space Center again as SpaceX prepares to become the first private company to send humans into orbit and onto the International Space Station. Elon Musks private company SpaceX is set to launch two NASA astronauts onboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft on a mission known as Demo-2. After liftoff, Crew Dragon will take 19 hours to fly to the International Space Station. Veteran NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are the lone passengers onboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft. As part of NASAs commercial crew program, the U.S. space agency selected SpaceX and Boeing to develop spacecraft to fly NASA astronauts.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. Floridas weather wasnt kind to SpaceX Wednesday as Elon Musks company attempted to break the dry spell in American astronaut launches from the Space Coast. From the start, dark heavy clouds loomed over NASAs Kennedy Space Center and Air Force weather officials said there was a 50% chance SpaceX would have good launch conditions for the Falcon 9 rocket. Countdown coverage from SpaceX and NASA included multiple celebrity appearances, from afar, and live commentary from NASA Astronaut Leland Melvin as well as SpaceX and NASA employees. When it does happen, the liftoff will mark the first time since 2011 NASA astronauts have launched from Florida. The 45th Weather Squadron is predicting a 60% chance of favorable launch weather Saturday.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. Immediately after SpaceX scrubbed Wednesdays scheduled launch of two astronauts to the International Space Station, many rain-soaked spectators lining the Indian River vowed to return for the next attempt this weekend. We prepared ourselves (for the scrub), said Susan Cullom, who traveled with her family from Wesley Chapel to witness the historic launch. Since Marburger remains furloughed from his job due to the pandemic, he hoped to catch the launch with other spectators along the Indian River. [READ MORE: How News 6 plans to capture historic launch views | What happens if NASA astronauts need to abort?] I saw the first launch when I was four years old and I saw the last launch in 2011, Ferris said.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. – Fellow Space Shuttle veteran Garrett Reisman knows how Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley may be feeling on the eve of launch day. Fearless is how the first SpaceX Crew Dragon crew have appeared in the week since they arrived at Kennedy Space Center. That was seven years after Hurley was onboard the final shuttle mission, Space Shuttle Atlantis. I think they make a very great crew,” Reisman said. Like Behnken and Hurley, Reisman has also been to space twice, one of those times on a shuttle with Behnken.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – For 120 students enrolled in Pine Ridge High School’s Advanced Manufacturing Academy, Wednesday’s historical SpaceX launch will provide them with a sense of pride and joy. For the past year, the students have been working with NASA’s HUNCH program, a nationwide program that partners with schools across the country to help with needs for NASA. Pine Ridge High school's Advancement Manufacturing Academy prepares students with engineering and manufacturing skills and since partnering with HUNCH, they've been working on about 180 access panels for NASA. The Academy, which was launched six years ago with help from Rep. David Santiago, prepares students with engineering and manufacturing skills. “Anything that gets sent up to space has to be precise and partnering with this HUNCH program that is allowing parts to go up and be utilized for the space program is huge for these students,” Santiago said.

TITUSVILLE, Fla. – Excitement has been building along the Space Coast as the countdown nears for a SpaceX launch that will bring NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. Around Titusville, residents have been making plans for how they intend to watch the historic launch. Dave De Los Santos retired from Kennedy Space Center in 2002 and said he's been looking forward to the launch for several weeks. At Space View Park, Jonathan Brunnemer was with a group of friends as they tried to find the best location to watch Wednesday's planned launch. “I think that’s really important.”For more on News 6′s Return to Space coverage and to watch a livestream of the launch Wednesday afternoon, click here.

He later became an Air Force test pilot and served as the lead flight test engineer for the 4th F-22. Like Hurley, Behnken was also part of the 2000 NASA astronaut class, where he met his now wife NASA astronaut Megan McArthur. “It’s almost like a home away from home, its great to be back.”[MORE COVERAGE: Forecast for SpaceX’s first astronaut launch aligns with typical wet Florida afternoon | America’s first astronaut launch in 9 years: How did we get here?] The pair have trained extensively at SpaceX’s headquarters in Hawthorne, California and at NASA’s John Space Center to prepare for the Demo-2 test flight. https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)A week ahead of the historic launch, Hurley said he was excited to put all that training toward testing Crew Dragon on its first spaceflight.

Published: May 25, 2020, 11:16 amIf you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000.

Possible conditions at Launch:A tropical wave bringing the potential for heavy rain to Central Florida Monday and Tuesday should be on its way out by late Tuesday. The 45th Weather Squadron has downgraded booster recovery weather to moderate. Wave heights are expected to settle back down to the 1-4" range by Wednesday afternoon. Computer forecasts show wave heights off the coast of Florida all the way to Halifax, Nova Scotia in the 1-3′ range. Wave heights for the Atlantic OceanThere is still time for the weather at Cape Canaveral to improve.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. – A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket went vertical at Kennedy Space Center early Thursday, a 230-foot signal that pad 39A is almost ready to host the first crewed launch from American soil in nearly a decade, News 6 partner Florida Today reported. SpaceX teams rolled the rocket and attached Crew Dragon capsule out of the horizontal integration facility overnight, then slowly raised it next to the launch tower and into its final position. If all goes according to plan, including a smooth flight readiness review scheduled to conclude Thursday evening, NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley will launch to the International Space Station at 4:33 p.m. next Wednesday. Their families – observing strict coronavirus quarantine procedures – will soon join them this week, too. Over the weekend, the Space Force is expected to issue its first weather forecast for the 4:33 p.m. launch.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. The Space Shuttle Program was always going to end. For all the shuttle program did for humanity, delivering a galaxy-hunting telescope to orbit and building the International Space Station, they had their drawbacks. In fact, it was Hurley himself who brought the Shuttle program to a close; he piloted Atlantis down to Kennedy's runway in 2011. Bridenstine said that will end once the Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 launch America back into space. Bridenstine said NASA was negotiating with Russia to buy one final seat from Russia for an October Soyuz launch.

However, on May 27, with two astronauts on board the Crew Dragon capsule, sea state will be critical again for the first time in 9 years. Crew Dragon can only touch down in water, at the end of the mission but also anytime in case of a mission abort. NASA's Crew Dragon weather launch criteria calls for a no-go "if downrange weather indicates violation of limits at splashdown in case of Dragon launch escape" and "if downrange weather shows high probability of violating limits at splashdown in case of Dragon launch escape." [RELATED: Here are 14 weather reasons SpaceX would not launch the Falcon 9 Crew Dragon]“I would expect there to be a very high chance of scrub due to the weather,” Reed said. NASA echoes that in its launch weather criteria: "Probability of violation is calculated for each location including limit conditions for wind, waves, lightning, and precipitation."

As NASA and SpaceX prepare to send astronauts back into space from U.S. soil for the first time in nearly a decade, the space agency released the climate criteria that would keep it from launching the Falcon 9 Crew Dragon on May 27. Before a launch the U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron will be closely monitoring weather conditions that could prevent the launch, or in the event of a launch abort, the recovery of the Crew Dragon spacecraft from the Atlantic Ocean. Weather officers will be monitoring both launch and landing conditions throughout the countdown for certain criteria that would cause the launch to be scrubbed for the safety of the astronauts. Below are 14 weather conditions that would prevent the launch from happening. [RETURN TO SPACE: Subscribe to a weekly newsletter to receive the latest in space news directly to your inbox | American spaceflight history: Space Shuttle establishes lasting human presence in space]