After several delays, NASA and Northrop Grumman (NGC) are launching the ICON spacecraft this November. ICON will be delivered to orbit aboard NGC’s Pegasus XL rocket, which is launched from the air over the Atlantic Ocean. ICON’s mission is to “explore a zone in our atmosphere where Earth weather and space weather meet.” After a recent delay, a new launch window has yet to be announced.
For more information about the launch and the upcoming launch schedule on the Space Coast, visit the official Kennedy Space Center website. Learn more about Northrop Grumman’s space program, visit the official Northrop Grumman website. If you are planning to visit the Space Coast and are in need of accommodations, give us a call at (321)-784-5046 or e-mail us at [email protected]!
On August 11th, the Space Coast will see a rare Delta IV Heavy launch from Cape Canaveral. The 45 minute launch window is set for the early hours of Saturday morning, between 3:48am and about 4:30am. The probe is named after Eugene Parker, the astrophysicist who correctly predicted the existence of solar winds in 1958. The probe will leave Earth’s orbit and make a short trip to Venus, where the craft will loop around to slow down before it approaches the Sun on November 5th to begin its 7 year mission. At its closet approach, the probe will fly within 4 miles of the Sun’s surface, traveling through the Sun’s outer atmosphere. NASA will also be hosting several special exhibits at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex over the weekend, showcasing mission details. The weather forecast for the launch indicates clear skies overnight and into the early morning hours.
We’ve had the pleasure of hosting many of the talented men and women from John Hopkins’ Applied Physics Lab (JHUAPL) and United Launch Alliance (ULA) this summer in our oceanfront units, who have played an integral role in the development and launch of the probe. We wish them the best of luck on this historic mission!
For more information about the launch and the upcoming launch schedule on the Space Coast, visit the official Kennedy Space Center website or check out Space.com’s article about the mission. For live launch updates, visit SpaceFlightNow‘s live launch feed. If you are planning to visit the Space Coast and are in need of accommodations, give us a call at (321)-784-5046 or e-mail us at [email protected]!
Image from America Space, photo credit Jason Rhian
This Thursday, United Launch Alliance (ULA) will be kicking off its launch schedule here on the Space Coast with the flight of the Atlas V rocket. Liftoff is currently set for 7:40pm, but heavy cloud cover for most of this week may cause a delay. The mission will carry the 4th installment of the SBIRS satellite constellation into position. The SBIRS satellites are a part of the US military’s early missile detection system. Thursday’s weather forecast indicates heavy cloud cover and a strong breeze going into the evening hours.
For a complete launch schedule, visit the official Kennedy Space Center calendar. If you are planning to visit the Space Coast and are in need of accommodations, give us a call at (321)-784-5046 or e-mail us at [email protected]! Corporate and government rates are available for aerospace travelers!
SpaceX is targeting Friday afternoon for Cape Canaveral’s last launch of 2017. Liftoff is scheduled for 1:20pm EST, and will attempt to land the first stage at the Cape Canaveral Landing Zone just a few minutes later. Friday’s launch will deliver supplies and scientific experiments to the International Space Station (ISS), and will be the first launch from Launch Complex 40 since a Falcon 9 rocket exploded during a test fire in September, 2016. The launch on Friday will depend on the readiness of the launchpad after repairs, as well as on the weather; the forecast indicates a chance for afternoon showers that may delay the launch.
For a complete launch schedule, visit the official Kennedy Space Center calendar. Learn more about SpaceX and look out for the launch livestream at SpaceX.com. If you are planning to visit the Space Coast and are in need of accommodations, give us a call at (321)-784-5046 or e-mail us at [email protected]! Corporate and government rates are available for aerospace travelers!
UPDATE 12/8: The launch has been pushed back to NET December 12 at approximately 11:45am EST.
UPDATE 12/12: The launch has been delayed til NET December 13 at 11:24am EST.
This Wednesday, November 15th, SpaceX is set to launch a secret US Government payload, “Zuma,” on Wednesday night. The launch is currently scheduled to liftoff at 8:00pm, and the Wednesday weather forecast indicates mostly clear skies for the launch. After liftoff, SpaceX will be landing the first stage at the Cape Canaveral AFB landing zone. This launch marks SpaceX’s 17th launch this year, and is one of the last two confirmed launches before the New Year. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will remain open late for launch viewing.
For a complete launch schedule, visit the official Kennedy Space Center calendar. Learn more about SpaceX and look out for the launch livestream at SpaceX.com. For more information about the mission and launch, visit SpaceFlightNow.com. If you are planning to visit the Space Coast and are in need of accommodations, give us a call at (321)-784-5046 or e-mail us at [email protected]! Corporate and government rates are available for aerospace travelers!
UPDATE 1/5/18: The launch of the Zuma payload, which was indefinitely postponed after a technical problem with the rocket in November, will be launching this Sunday, January 7 with a window opening at 8:00pm EST. The weather forecast for Sunday indicates mostly cloudy skies with a strong breeze, with some break in the cloud cover going into the evening hours. Since it is a classified launch, SpaceX will not be livestreaming the launch. Saturday’s launch will be the first launch of the year, and will kick off a very busy year in space for Florida’s Space Coast. Stay tuned for more information about this year’s launch plans!
Image belongs to Chris B of NASASpaceFlight.com @NASASpaceFlight on Twitter
