NASA and SpaceX have extended the Crew-8 mission’s stay at the International Space Station due to Hurricane Milton. The four astronauts on board, including NASA’s Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, along with Russia’s Alexander Grebenkin, will now return to Earth no earlier than Sunday morning, October 13th.
Originally scheduled to depart on Monday, October 7th, the Crew-8 mission has faced multiple launch delays due to the approaching hurricane. As Hurricane Milton intensified to a Category 5 storm, NASA and SpaceX decided to postpone the undocking to ensure the safety of the astronauts and ground teams.
The decision to delay the return was made after careful consideration of weather conditions and the potential impacts of the hurricane on Florida’s coast, where the Crew-8 capsule is expected to splash down. NASA officials continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as needed.
Crew-8 launched on March 3rd aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and successfully docked at the ISS two days later. Their extended stay at the space station is a result of the recent arrival of the Crew-9 mission, which also experienced delays due to another hurricane, Helene.
