The anticipated launch of a Russian Soyuz spacecraft heading for the International Space Station (ISS) was abruptly canceled shortly before liftoff.

Reports tell us that the mission, which was supposed to take Russian and Belarusian cosmonauts as well as an American astronaut to the International Space Station, was abruptly canceled Thursday.

(Photo : VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO/AFP via Getty Images)

The Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft carrying the International Space Station (ISS) Expedition 70-71 crew of US NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara and Russian Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub blasts off to the ISS from the Moscow-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on September 15, 2023. 

Russian Soyuz Launch Canceled at the Last Second

As anticipation built at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, where the Soyuz rocket stood poised for launch, viewers worldwide watched in anticipation as the countdown reached its final moments. 

However, just 21 seconds before liftoff, the mission was abruptly halted. The reason for the sudden cancellation remains unknown. "The Soyuz launch to the space station has been aborted," NASA spokesperson Rob Navias said during a live feed. 

The crew, consisting of NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky, and Marina Vasilevskaya from Belarus, was prepared for their mission to the ISS.

Despite the setback, NASA assured the public that the crew and the spacecraft were safe following the abort. Both ground crews and engineers from Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, were quick to respond, ensuring the safety of the vehicle and its crew.

"Today's Soyuz launch was aborted at the 20-second mark. The spacecraft and crew remain safe," NASA confirmed.

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Reasons Behind the Postponed Launch

Navias stated that the abort was prompted by an automatic system soon before engine ignition. Two umbilical connections were also withdrawn away from the rocket ahead of the planned launch.

The aborted launch has raised questions about the next steps for the mission. With the next launch opportunity scheduled for Saturday, all eyes are now on the teams working tirelessly to resolve the issue that led to the cancellation. Once the problem is identified and addressed, the crew will have another chance to fulfill their mission to the ISS.

According to NASA, Novitsky and Vasilevskaya were only supposed to be aboard the ISS for 12 days, and their mission was to carry Loral O'Hara down to Earth on April 2. 

Meanwhile, Dyson was scheduled to spend six months onboard the ISS doing technology experiments to help humans prepare for future space endeavors.

This is not the first time a Russian space launch has been canceled at the last minute. In October 2018, a Soyuz rocket carrying NASA astronaut Nick Hague and cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin encountered an in-flight abort. 

This emergency forced the crew's Soyuz capsule to disconnect from the rocket mid-flight, resulting in a difficult emergency landing. 

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