NASA = National Aeronautics and Space Administration has announced that the scheduled launch date of astronaut Satoshi Furukawa's second space flight will be changed to August 2.
Japan astronaut Satoshi Furukawa (59) will stay on the International Space Station for about six months aboard the Crew Dragon, a private spacecraft launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA.
NASA announced on August 3 that the scheduled launch date of Mr. Furukawa's spacecraft will be changed from August 8 to 21, Japan time.
NASA says the reason is that it takes time to prepare the launch pad for launching Mr. Furukawa's spacecraft and to coordinate the schedule with the cargo ship carrying cargo to the International Space Station.
For this launch, Mr. Furukawa is scheduled to board with four astronauts from NASA and ESA = European Space Agency.
Furukawa made his first space flight aboard the Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 25, and this is his second time.