NASA-SpaceX Demo-2 mission Launch America Livestream May 27, 2020: NASA was all set to send two of its astronauts — Col. Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken — into space, aboard a spacecraft developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX today. But due to bad weather conditions, NASA together with Space X announced the mission has been scrubbed for today. The next launch date scheduled for May 30. NASA tweeted, “We are not going to launch today.” Due to the weather conditions, the launch is scrubbing. Our next opportunity will be Saturday, May 30 at 3:22pm ET. Live #LaunchAmerica coverage will begin at 11am ET.”
This NASA-SpaceX launch will be the first time in nine years when astronauts will take off from the US soil on an American rocket. The mission will take the spacecraft and crew to the International Space Station. This will be the first time a private space company will be achieving such a feat.
Today’s #LaunchAmerica attempt was an instantaneous launch window. Due to orbital mechanics, we need to make sure that at the time we launch, we are able to reach the @Space_Station on time and accurately. Because of this, we could not wait for clear weather today. pic.twitter.com/t5uykgL2Fp
— NASA (@NASA) May 27, 2020
🌩️ No launch for today – safety for our crew members @Astro_Doug and @AstroBehnken is our top priority.
We’ll try, try again to #LaunchAmerica on Saturday with liftoff at 3:22pm ET. NASA TV will begin coverage at 11 am. Join us again virtually: https://t.co/LO1sJwia2G
— Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) May 27, 2020
SpaceX, in collaboration with NASA, is set to launch its manned spacecraft from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 4:33pm Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 27 (2:00AM IST Thursday, May 28). The last manned spacecraft launch from American soil took place back in July 2011. NASA’s Discovery, Endeavour, and Atlantis were retired the same year, thus concluding the 30-year Space Shuttle program. This will also be the first global virtual NASA Social to experience the #LaunchAmeria Mission.
READ | SpaceX ready for defining moment with first humans on rocket
The SpaceX Demonstration Mission 2 or SpaceX Demo-2 mission will be the first for a commercially built and operated American rocket and spacecraft to carry humans to the space station. NASA is also providing coverage of the upcoming prelaunch and launch activities for the mission.
NASA, SpaceX Demo-2 mission launch livestream: Watch the launch on Twitter
LIVE NOW: History is about to be made. Watch as @NASA_Astronauts #LaunchAmerica to the @Space_Station from American soil for the first time in nine years: https://t.co/U1COQzFy4v https://t.co/U1COQzFy4v
— NASA (@NASA) May 27, 2020
The SpaceX Demp-2 will “Launch America” on May 27, 2020, at 1:33 pm PT that converts to May 28, 2020, at 2:03 am as per the Indian Standard Time or IST. NASA will be live streaming not only the launch but also other activities leading up to the launch. Users can watch the telecast live on NASA Television and the NASA website at http://www.nasa.gov/live.
The live stream will show a non-stop coverage of the mission starting with pre-launch activities to all the way until the Crew Dragon has docked with the ISS and Behnken and Hurley have been welcomed on board. The stream of pre-launch activities had started on May 21, 2020. Additionally, the #LaunchAmerica NASA Social can be watched on a Facebook group as well. “The #LaunchAmerica NASA Social is taking the form of a Facebook group that any social media user can request permission to join by answering a few simple questions and agreeing to adhere to the guidelines of the group,” the NASA blog post noted.
NASA also noted, “As we prepare for SpaceX’s first crewed test flight for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, and the first time we’ve launched American astronauts to the International Space Station from American soil since the end of the space shuttle era in 2011, we are inviting the public to come along for the ride — virtually. While we cannot invite the public onsite for one of our usual NASA Social events because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are excited to present an opportunity for people of all ages from all over the world to participate in. This will be our very first global virtual NASA Social.”
Also read | Explained: What is the SpaceX Demo-2 mission, set to launch next week?
They’re ready. Are you?#LaunchAmerica pic.twitter.com/skGIqcbAAM
— NASA (@NASA) May 27, 2020
“This is what it’s all about… the people. It’s about the families. We’re working together as one community to get @AstroBehnken and @Astro_Doug launching off to the cosmos, to the @Space_Station.” — @Astro_Flow reflecting on the crew preparing to launch: pic.twitter.com/ieqoM2WqT7
— NASA (@NASA) May 27, 2020
“They really hit the ground running… it’s great, because we have a lot to get done.” One of our @Commercial_Crew astronauts @VicGlover discusses his training for the Crew-1 mission following this #LaunchAmerica flight test: https://t.co/U1COQzFy4v pic.twitter.com/Rv1Mm8uFXF
— NASA (@NASA) May 27, 2020
The White Room is the last place on Earth that @Astro_Doug & @AstroBehnken see before they get on board Crew Dragon to #LaunchAmerica. Tune in: https://t.co/U1COQzFy4v pic.twitter.com/InXkUI25Kr
— NASA (@NASA) May 27, 2020
Learn more about Dragon’s design pic.twitter.com/Fw5OZ9Ecwm
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 27, 2020
Users will also have the option to stream post-launch activities until May 29, 2020. The post-launch activities include SpaceX Demo-2’s post-flight readiness review briefing, virtual crew engagement, pre-launch briefing, and administrator countdown clock briefing, as well as a series of discussions around the launch. The stream will also show the ISS Expedition 63 crew news conference with Commander Chris Cassidy of NASA and astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley of NASA.