CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Thick clouds prompted SpaceX to call off Thursday’s planned launch of four astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA. The countdown was halted at the one-minute, 7-second mark. SpaceX's next launch attempt from Kennedy Space Center is Friday, although the weather forecast is less favorable.

Cardman, who will command the Crew-11 mission, is a rookie astronaut selected by NASA to be part of the 2017 class of astronauts. The Williamsburg, Virginia, native holds degrees in biology and marine sciences. She has been part of several Antarctic expeditions and specializes in geobiology and geochemical cycling in subsurface environments.