The launch of the SpaceX rocket to the International Space Station (ISS) has been delayed for the second time in a week. This time, the cause behind the delay being a health-related issue with one of the crew members. The rare occurrence will keep the four astronauts waiting for some time as they prepare for the launch.

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While the space agency labelled it as a “minor medical issue” and unrelated to the coronavirus or a medical emergency on Monday, they refused to give any more details regarding the nature of the problem or the identity of the astronaut facing the problem.  

The launch was originally scheduled for Sunday but it was postponed until Wednesday due to unfavourable weather conditions, it was then rescheduled for Saturday night as per NASA.

Previously, NASA was forced to delay a launch due to a medical issue faced by one of the crew members in 1990. The mission commander for Space Shuttle Atlantis flight, John Creighton fell sick.

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However, the astronauts did not have to wait for long as John was given the medical green light soon enough. The crew was met with two additional weather-related postponements.

The crew is set to launch at 11:36 PM on Saturday from NASA’s Kennedy space centre built in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Their vehicle consists of a two-stage Falcon 9 rocket and a Crew Dragon Capsule.

If everything goes according to plan then the four crew members (three belonging to the United States and one from the European Space Agency) will reach the International Space Station in approximately 22 hours.

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They will embark on a six-month mission on the ISS situated 400 KM above the Earth.

Presently, the crew members are quarantined at the cape and continuing their preparation for the launch.

51-year-old German astronaut Matthias Maurer from the ESA, 44 -year-old flight commander Raja Chari, 61-year-old mission pilot Tom Marshburn and 34-year-old mission specialist Kayla Barron will be heading into space soon.