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Local former astronaut: Scrubbed launches are emotional experiences

Bad weather threatens to delay Wednesday's historic SpaceX astronaut launch
Posted at 10:26 PM, May 29, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-30 00:26:02-04

As long as the weather holds Americans will get to watch the first manned space flight launch from the United States in nearly a decade on Saturday.

The launch was originally scheduled for Wednesday but was scrubbed due to weather.

Former astronaut and retired Air Force General Kevin Chilton lives in southern Colorado, and has been on the launch pad when a mission gets scrubbed.

He said it can be emotional, especially for the astronauts' families.

"You don't hear much from the families. They're really the silent heroes here," Childton said. "I really salute Bob and Doug's families as they cheer them on but at the same time have some anxieties."

Chilton is excited to watch this weekend's launch and said it will be the first of many American-made rockets carrying astronauts back into space in the years to come.