SpaceX has announced a one-day delay for the launch of Axiom Space's Ax-3 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Originally scheduled for Wednesday (Jan. 17), the mission will now lift off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 4:49 p.m. EST (2149 GMT) on Thursday (Jan. 18).

The delay, as stated by SpaceX in a post on X (formerly Twitter), will allow teams to complete pre-launch checkouts and data analysis on the Falcon 9 rocket and the Crew Dragon spacecraft, which will carry the four-person crew to the ISS. The company will provide livestream coverage of the launch, which can be watched on Space.com starting at 2:30 p.m. EST (1845 GMT) on Jan. 18.

The Ax-3 mission will feature an all-European crew, led by mission commander Michael "LA" López-Alegría, a former NASA astronaut. The other three crew members include mission specialist Walter Villadei, who flew aboard Virgin Galactic's Galactic 01 suborbital spaceflight in June 2023, European Space Agency astronaut reserve member Marcus Wandt, and Turkey's first astronaut, Alper Gezeravcı.

During their approximately two-week stay aboard the ISS, the crew will conduct over 30 science experiments, according to Axiom Space. This mission marks an important milestone in private space exploration, as NASA requires that private crewed missions to the ISS be commanded by a former agency astronaut.

As space enthusiasts eagerly await the launch, the additional day's delay will allow SpaceX to ensure that all pre-launch preparations and analysis are completed, ensuring a smooth and successful mission to the ISS.