SpaceX Nasa launch: Video shows astronauts saying goodbye to their families before mission postponed
Nasa astronauts Robert Behnken and Doug Hurley said touching goodbyes to their families ahead of what was supposed to be the day of their historic space launch.
On Wednesday, Behnken and Hurley emerged from quarantine in their SpaceX spacesuits, pausing briefly for the cameras before making their way over to their families.
In the video footage, the astronauts, who were set to launch into space later today aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule only to be postponed till Saturday due to weather, can be seen giving air-hugs and blowing kisses to their families, in line with social distancing guidelines.
Behnken was met by his wife Katherine Megan McArthur, an oceanographer and a National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronaut, and the couple’s six-year-old son Theodore.
Hurley had the chance to say goodbye to his wife Karen Nyberg, a mechanical engineer and retired Nasa astronaut, and their 10-year-old son Jack.
"This is what it's all about... the people. It's about the families. We're working together as one community to get @AstroBehnken and @Astro_Doug launching off to the cosmos, to the @Space_Station." — @Astro_Flow reflecting on the crew preparing to launch: pic.twitter.com/ieqoM2WqT7
— NASA (@NASA)
Once the men were seated in the white Tesla that would transport them to the launch pad, their families took the opportunity to say additional goodbyes, waving through the windows of the car and holding their hands against the glass.
"This is what it's all about... the people. It's about the families. We're working together as one community to get Doug and Bob launching off to the cosmos, to the Space Station,” retired Nasa astronaut Leland Melvin said during the coverage of the astronauts’ launch.
The emotional moment prompted praise on social media, where people applauded the astronauts ahead of their journey.
“I was quite emotional watching Bob & Doug saying farewell with their kids & wives,” one person tweeted. “Godspeed.”
Another said: “What a moment.”
“So emotional! Best of luck fellas, wishing you clear skies and safe journey. Virtual hugs to your amazing families too #LaunchAmerica,” someone else wrote.
Due to the unique nature of the launch, it is currently unknown how long Behnken and Hurley will be in space, according to CBS News, which reported that the “spacecraft can remain aloft of up to 120 days, but the crew might come down earlier depending on landing weather and a variety of other factors.”
The SpaceX Demo-2 launch is now scheduled to liftoff on Saturday 30 May at 3.22pm ET from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida before heading to the International Space Station.
Standing down from launch today due to unfavorable weather in the flight path. Our next launch opportunity is Saturday, May 30 at 3:22 p.m. EDT, or 19:22 UTC
— SpaceX (@SpaceX)
The launch will mark the first time in nearly a decade that American astronauts have journeyed to space from American soil, as well as the first time Elon Musk’s SpaceX has launched astronauts into space.
