A French astronaut is set to lift-off in a SpaceX launch, in a delayed mission to the International Space Station.
Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency is to travel alongside three fellow astronauts in a recycled Dragon capsule, fired up off Earth on a recycled rocket.
It will be SpaceX’s third crewed launch, which was originally scheduled for Thursday, but poor weather conditions forced a delay.
SpaceX’s Dragon capsule requires calm waves and winds in case an emergency splashdown is needed during the climb to orbit.
Friday’s weather forecast was looking much better, according to NASA.
The launch is expected at 1149 CEST.
Alongside the Frenchman on the six-month mission are NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, and Japan’s Akihiko Hoshide.
Pesquet will be bringing a gift of French food prepared by star chefs to the team on the International Space Station.
The flight should take just under 24 hours.
For the first time, Elon Musk’s company is launching astronauts with a previously flown capsule and rocket, as it has done for station supply runs.
This crew capsule launched with SpaceX’s first crew last May, and the rocket lifted off the second crew in November.
Watch the launch in the video player above.
