Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Clouds force last-minute delay for astronaut launch to the International Space Station

It’s a last-minute weather scrub for SpaceX’s latest crew launch for NASA

By Marcia Dunn
Thursday 31 July 2025 12:24 EDT

Thick clouds prompted SpaceX to call off Thursday’s planned launch of four astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA.

The countdown was halted at the one-minute, 7-second mark.

SpaceX's next launch attempt from Kennedy Space Center is Friday, although the weather forecast is less favorable.

The U.S., Japanese and Russian crew will spend at least six months at the space station, replacing colleagues launched in March as the fill-ins for NASA’s two stuck astronauts.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who’s temporarily leading NASA, was at Kennedy Space Center for the launch attempt. The morning started out with ideal weather, but the wind picked up and the clouds rolled in.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in