SpaceX was just moments away from sending four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) when thick clouds forced a dramatic halt to the Crew-11 mission on July 31. With only 1 minute and 7 seconds left in the countdown at Kennedy Space Center, mission controllers scrubbed the launch, citing cloud cover that suddenly rolled in over Launch Complex 39A.
NASA and SpaceX now plan to try again on Friday, August 1, with a new liftoff time set for 11:43 a.m. Eastern. The window had originally opened at 12:09 p.m., but Florida’s famously unpredictable weather intervened at the last moment. “Standing down from today’s Falcon 9 launch of Dragon due to cloud cover at the launch site,” SpaceX posted on X (formerly Twitter) within minutes of the decision.
The Crew-11 Team and Historic Vehicle
Crew-11 will be led by NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, and includes members from the United States, Japan, and Russia—all set for months of scientific work aboard the ISS. Their ride, Crew Dragon Endeavour, is making its record-breaking sixth flight. This is notable because when NASA first certified Dragon for long missions under its Commercial Crew Program, it was only cleared for five flights; expanding that limit is a major step as both agencies aim to eventually certify up to 15 flights per vehicle.
The mission is also noteworthy for some tech upgrades and milestones. Pilot Mike Fincke will wear an improved intra-vehicular activity (IVA) suit, following recent enhancements to Dragon’s heat shield and parachute deployment system—both tested after the Ax-4 mission returned safely from space.
Looking Ahead: Weather and Future Flights
If all goes well on August 1, Crew-11 will become the eleventh crew rotation by SpaceX and twelfth human spaceflight under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The astronauts are expected to spend several months conducting experiments on the ISS—an essential part of ongoing research in microgravity.
Spaceflight fans are hoping Florida’s notorious afternoon storms stay away this time around. But if there’s one thing everyone at Kennedy knows, it’s that launches can always hinge on a few stubborn clouds.
