Here's the last word today from SpaceX on the company's plans to launch a first demonstration flight for NASA Wednesday morning: "Still looks good for tomorrow. Get some rest, it's going to be an early morning!"
The launch of a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the first operational Dragon spacecraft is targeted for 9:03 a.m. from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
We'll have live coverage of the countdown here starting at 8 a.m. Sign up for text message alerts here.
NASA said earlier today that the launch was on track for Wednesday, but SpaceX promised it would confirm those plans tonight. The "looks good" update came in around 11 p.m.
The launch is moving forward sooner than anticipated after two small cracks were found Monday in the rocket's upper stage engine nozzle. Managers at that time thought the mission would fly no sooner than Thursday.
Repair crews simply cut away the cracked section of the bell-shaped nozzle, which engineers determined was unnecessary for the upcoming test flight.
SpaceX plans to deliver the Dragon to orbit 186 miles above the planet, fly nearly two orbits and then command the spacecraft to re-enter for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean 500 miles west of Mexico. The entire mission should take about three-and-a-half hours.
Space news and analysis from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral 
1 comment:
Congratulations SpaceX!!!
I just viewed the launch from my front walk. Very nicely done!!!
Keep up the good work and hire plenty of talented Brevardians!
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