For the first time in history, a collaboration between SpaceX and Nasa will use a commercial aerospace craft to launch two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station in a mission called Demo-2.
On Wednesday, NASA is preparing to send two of its astronauts to orbit aboard a spacecraft built by SpaceX, the rocket company founded by Elon Musk.
However, weather forecasts for the afternoon looked grim with rain likely around Kennedy Space Center. In addition, a tropical storm, Bertha, formed off South Carolina, which might churn up choppy waves in the Atlantic where the capsule would splash down in case of an emergency during the launch.
It will be the first time since the retirement of the space shuttles in July 2011 that NASA astronauts launch from American soil on an American rocket to the International Space Station. And unlike for astronaut launches in the past, when NASA ran the show, this time SpaceX will be in charge of mission control.
When is the launch and how can I watch it?
The launch will take off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
NASA will stream the launch live on its website, YouTube and other platforms, starting at noon.
Wednesday 5/27/2020, 4:33 PM ET. (Delayed First Attempt)
Saturday 5/30/2020 at 3:22 PM ET.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 3:22 p.m. from pad 39A, the historic site from which the crew of Apollo 11 left for the moon, after a seamless countdown where the primary concern was inclement weather that on Wednesday had forced a postponement of the first launch attempt.