For the first time in nine years, NASA astronauts will launch a manned rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Tampa. Astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas will be testing the Space X built ‘Dragon’ capsule.
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon will ride a Falcon 9 rocket out of the earth’s atmosphere on a mission to the International Space Station, part of the agency’s Commerical Crew Program. Once they arrive, the two astronauts plan to spend up to four months on board before returning to earth. They’ll use that time to take the Dragon capsule spacecraft on test flights and confirm that all of the ship’s systems are performing correctly.
When Is the launch?
The SpaceX Demo-2 test flight is scheduled for liftoff from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39A at 4:33 p.m. today in Cape Canaveral.
There will be no do-overs today if things start to run behind schedule. The launch window is instantaneous, which means any delay will force a delay until 3:22 p.m. Saturday or 3 p.m. Sunday.
That could be a real concern given the rainfall reported across the state this week by the National Weather Service.
How To Watch on TV
The show starts early on NASA TV, the live-stream programming carried by some cable providers. Continuous coverage of the mission begins at 12:15 p.m. and continues through Crew Dragon’s arrival at the International Space Station on Thursday, including the subsequent hatch opening and welcoming ceremony.
You can watch NASA TV on the agency’s website, www.nasa.gov, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Roku, Pluto, and Twitch TV. Or, you can watch in the viewer below.
How can I watch online?
While the coronavirus pandemic has snuffed out the possibility of more traditional watch parties for the launch, NASA and SpaceX have pulled out all the stops to create an interactive, virtual experience for viewers. NASA’s “Launch America” website offers viewers a behind-the-scenes look at each step of the today’s launch, with virtual tours of NASA facilities at Kennedy Space Center and real-time social media chats with staff.
