CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (KLKN)- A second attempt for the Starliner spacecraft will take off Tuesday from the Florida coast. The destination is the International Space Station.
This is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for 12:20 pm Central Time. If it is successful, it will take about 24 hours to reach the International Space Station on Wednesday. This mission was attempted in 2019, and the Starliner never reached the ISS but did make it back to earth safely.
The spacecraft is loaded with more than 400 pounds of NASA cargo and crew supplies and will come back with more than 550 pounds of cargo from the ISS.
“OFT-2 will demonstrate the end-to-end capabilities of the Starliner spacecraft and Atlas V rocket, from launch, to docking, to a return to Earth with a desert landing in the western United States. The uncrewed mission will provide valuable data toward NASA certifying Boeing’s crew transportation system for regular flights to and from the space station,” NASA said in a statement.
You can register to attend the launch virtually.
WATCH LIVE:
NASA’s Boeing OFT-2 mission coverage is as follows (all times Eastern):
Tuesday, Aug. 3
12:30 p.m. – NASA TV launch coverage begins for a targeted 1:20 p.m. liftoff. NASA TV will have continuous coverage through Starliner orbital insertion.
3:30 p.m. (approximately) – Postlaunch news conference on NASA TV.
Wednesday, Aug. 4
10:30 a.m. – NASA TV rendezvous and docking coverage begins.
1:37 p.m. (scheduled) – Docking
Thursday, Aug. 5
8:30 a.m. – NASA TV hatch opening coverage begins
8:40 a.m. – Hatch opening
9:40 a.m. (approximately) –Welcoming remarks
WATCH LIVE: NASA & Boeing Team Up To Launch Starliner Commercial Crew Vehicle at 12:20 pm Lincoln time
###[ad_2]
Originally Appeared Here