SpaceX & NASA Clear Spaceship For Crew Launch After ‘AC Duct’ Cracks

On Saturday, May 30th, SpaceX and NASA cleared the Crew Dragon spaceship for launch after discovering and repairing a crack in the spacecraft’s air conditioning duct.

The crack was first noticed by SpaceX engineers during a preflight check of the Crew Dragon spacecraft the day before. The preflight check included a review of components onboard the spacecraft, including the “AC Duct” used to provide air circulation to the crew and their supplies during the mission to the International Space Station.

Thankfully, the crack was found and safely repaired in time for the launch. The spacecraft is now set for launch as scheduled with four astronauts in tow as part of SpaceX’s first launch of astronauts from U.S. soil since the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2011.

The four astronauts, Victor Glover, Mike Hopkins, Shannon Walker, and Soichi Noguchi, are now assigned to the Demo-2 mission and will be launching in the Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The astronauts are set to launch in early-morning hours of May 31st and will embark on a two-to-four-month mission to the International Space Station.

The engineers and technicians of both SpaceX and NASA worked together to repair the crack and make sure it did not interfere with the launch. Aside from this minor issue, the spacecraft is reported to be in excellent condition.

The determination of SpaceX and NASA to put safety above all and protect the mission, the crew, and other astronauts, is what makes space flight possible in the modern era. The determination is one of the many reasons the world can look forward to a safe and successful launch, and new chapter in space exploration.