On the Progress docking stream, Rob Navias described the issue as "a couple of open items, just nothing significant but a couple of technical items that required a bit more analysis."
SpaceX and NASA are now targeting no earlier than Saturday, August 26 for Falcon 9 to launch Dragon to the @space_station. The new launch date provides teams additional time to complete and discuss analysis. The vehicles remain healthy and crew is ready to fly.https://www.spacex.com/launches
https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=crew-7QuoteSpaceX and NASA are targeting no earlier than Saturday, August 26 for Falcon 9’s launch of Dragon’s seventh operational human spaceflight mission (Crew-7) to the International Space Station from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The instantaneous launch window is at 3:27 a.m. ET (07:27 UTC), with a backup opportunity available on Sunday, August 27 at 3:04 a.m. ET (07:04 UTC).The Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission previously flew NASA’s Crew-3 and Crew-5 missions to and from the space station. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage will land on Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.During their time on the orbiting laboratory, the crew will conduct science and technology demonstrations to prepare for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and to benefit humanity on Earth.
SpaceX and NASA are targeting no earlier than Saturday, August 26 for Falcon 9’s launch of Dragon’s seventh operational human spaceflight mission (Crew-7) to the International Space Station from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The instantaneous launch window is at 3:27 a.m. ET (07:27 UTC), with a backup opportunity available on Sunday, August 27 at 3:04 a.m. ET (07:04 UTC).The Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission previously flew NASA’s Crew-3 and Crew-5 missions to and from the space station. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage will land on Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.During their time on the orbiting laboratory, the crew will conduct science and technology demonstrations to prepare for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and to benefit humanity on Earth.
Crew-7 Targets Saturday Launch to Space StationAugust 25, 2023NASA and SpaceX are targeting 3:27 a.m. EDT Saturday, Aug. 26, for launch of the agency’s Crew-7 mission to the International Space Station.Mission managers met on Thursday to discuss the status toward final readiness for a Friday launch opportunity. After performing an extra data review, teams decided to take additional time to reconfirm required factors of safety and operational margin on one of the Dragon spacecraft’s environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) components. The new launch date provides teams additional time to complete the analysis and thoroughly review the necessary data ahead of launch. All ECLSS valves on the Crew-7 and Crew-6 Dragon spacecraft are performing normally, and performed as expected in all preflight testing. Safety continues to be the team’s top priority. The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft remain healthy as teams complete and discuss the final results of this additional analysis, and the crew is ready to fly when the entire team is ready.For a launch on Saturday, the U.S. Space Force 45th Weather Squadron predicts a 95% chance of favorable weather conditions at the launch pad for liftoff based on Falcon 9 Crew Dragon launch weather criteria.[...]
NASA provided more details to Spaceflight Now on the decision to postpone Friday's planned launch of an international crew to the space station. In a written response, a space agency spokesman said a review of the reliability of valves in the Crew Dragon's life support system was not completed in time for the planned Aug. 25 launch. The valves in question are used to flow oxygen and nitrogen into the cabin atmosphere and are part of the Environmental Control and Life Support System or ECLSS.The review of all valves in the Crew Dragon spacecraft was ordered after corrosion on a previous Cargo Dragon mission, caused a propulsion system isolation valve to become stuck."In an abundance of caution, SpaceX proactively went back and looked at test data on all of the valves in the spacecraft to understand the margin to open and close for the ECLSS valves," the written response said. "This analysis was scheduled to be completed by the Aug. 25 launch opportunity, but took a little longer than expected in order to accomplish all normal and contingency cases that the ECLSS system valves might experience in flight."NASA said all life support system valves on Dragon Endurance at the launch pad and on Dragon Endeavour, currently in orbit docked at the space station, are performing normally.
Crew-7 Targets Saturday Launch to Space StationQuoteAugust 25, 2023<snip>Mission managers met on Thursday to discuss the status toward final readiness for a Friday launch opportunity. After performing an extra data review, teams decided to take additional time to reconfirm required factors of safety and operational margin on one of the Dragon spacecraft’s environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) components. The new launch date provides teams additional time to complete the analysis and thoroughly review the necessary data ahead of launch. All ECLSS valves on the Crew-7 and Crew-6 Dragon spacecraft are performing normally, and performed as expected in all preflight testing.<snip>[...]
August 25, 2023<snip>Mission managers met on Thursday to discuss the status toward final readiness for a Friday launch opportunity. After performing an extra data review, teams decided to take additional time to reconfirm required factors of safety and operational margin on one of the Dragon spacecraft’s environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) components. The new launch date provides teams additional time to complete the analysis and thoroughly review the necessary data ahead of launch. All ECLSS valves on the Crew-7 and Crew-6 Dragon spacecraft are performing normally, and performed as expected in all preflight testing.<snip>[...]
Audio of the dress rehearsal being broadcast over the ISS Youtube feed caught me a little off guard when I was half asleep. I vaguely remember discussion of some minor oxygen system issue, otherwise sounded successful.
Falcon 9 and Dragon at the pad in Florida
SFN Launch Schedule, updated August 25:Launch 26 August 07:27:27 UTC = 3:27:27 am EDT
Launch time to the second? ⏲️
