NASA, SpaceX delay launch of astronaut mission as Helene approaches Florida’s Gulf Coast

Rapidly approaching Tropical Storm Helene has caused NASA and Space X to delay the launch of one of its upcoming astronaut missions in Central Florida.

The Crew-9 mission was expected to launch Thursday afternoon from Cape Canaveral, ahead of the predicted landfall of what is forecast to be Hurricane Helene along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Helene is still a tropical storm, but is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said. It will continue to build stem before a Florida landfall late Thursday or early Friday as a Category 3 hurricane.

READ MORE: Tropical Storm Helene forms. It could hit Florida Gulf coast with 15 feet of surge

That launch has now been pushed to no earlier than 1:17 p.m. Saturday, NASA and Space X said Tuesday in a news release.

Although Helene was expected to hit along Florida’s Gulf Coast, they said the storm system is predicted to be large enough that high winds and heavy rain are expected in the Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island regions on Florida’s east coast.

The spacecraft rolled out to the launch pad Tuesday for hardware checks and rehearsals. Crews were expected to move the rocket and capsule back into its hangar to protect it ahead of any storm effects from Helene.

This story was produced by Fresh Take Florida, a news service of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. You can donate to support our students here.