Return trip for Dayton’s Larry Connor, Axiom-1 team from space station again delayed

A photo provided by SpaceX of the Axiom-1 mission crew during training, from left: Mark Pathy, Larry Connor, Michael López-Alegría, the mission commander, and Eytan Stibbe. Axiom Space bought seats on a SpaceX rocket to be NASA’s guests on the flight that went into orbit on Friday, April 8, 2022, as the agency extends efforts to commercialize spaceflight. (SpaceX via The New York Times) -- NO SALES; FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY WITH NYT STORY SPACE TOURISM BY KENNETH CHANG FOR APRIL 8, 2022. ALL OTHER USE PROHIBITED.

A photo provided by SpaceX of the Axiom-1 mission crew during training, from left: Mark Pathy, Larry Connor, Michael López-Alegría, the mission commander, and Eytan Stibbe. Axiom Space bought seats on a SpaceX rocket to be NASA’s guests on the flight that went into orbit on Friday, April 8, 2022, as the agency extends efforts to commercialize spaceflight. (SpaceX via The New York Times) -- NO SALES; FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY WITH NYT STORY SPACE TOURISM BY KENNETH CHANG FOR APRIL 8, 2022. ALL OTHER USE PROHIBITED.

The Axiom-1 crew, including local businessman Larry Connor, is heading home from the International Space Station this weekend after multiple weather delays.

The team is expected undock from the International Space Station on Sunday at 8:55 p.m., according to a Twitter post from Kathy Leuders, an engineer for NASA.

The new delay was caused by high winds at the splashdown site.

The splashdown begins at 1 p.m. Monday, the post said.

“Teams will continue to monitor weather at the splashdown sites prior to undocking to ensure conditions are acceptable for a safe recovery of the Ax-1 astronauts and Dragon spacecraft,” a post from NASA’s blog read.

The initial undocking was meant to be last Monday. The event was then delayed three more times by weather conditions.

The first private space crew known as Axiom-1 has been conducting experiments in partnership with Cleveland Clinic and the Mayo Clinic based around the heart, spine, brain and aging during their trip that began on April 8 from the Kennedy Space Center.