Astronauts Bob Behnken, Doug Hurley could splash down Sunday, despite looming tropical storm
Despite a tropical storm forecast to trudge over Florida this weekend, NASA and SpaceX on Wednesday were still moving forward with plans to bring home American Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley on Sunday.
The two astronauts, who on May 31 launched to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, are scheduled to splash down in their Crew Dragon capsule off the coast of Florida around 2:48 p.m.
Cape Canaveral, Daytona, Jacksonville, Panama City, Pensacola, Tallahassee and Tampa are the seven sites that were chosen for potential splashdown spots.
“Everybody remains go for return,” NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said Wednesday after a return flight readiness review earlier in the day.
Steve Stich, program manager for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, said over the next few days teams will be closely monitoring the weather and if necessary agencies can postpone Behnken and Hurley’s return. There will be a NASA weather briefing on Friday, about 24 hours prior to the Crew Dragon capsule’s scheduled undocking from the ISS Saturday afternoon.
“Bringing a spaceship home, that’s a really big deal and it’s very important. It’s part of that sacred honor that we have for ensuring that we bring Bob and Doug back home to their families, to their kids and making sure they’re safe,” said Benji Reed, director of crew mission management for SpaceX.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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