The SpaceX Crew Dragon launch takes place today (May 30) at 3:22 p.m. Eastern.
Today, we (hopefully) watch the SpaceX Crew Dragon launch for NASA, a historic event that will send two astronauts on a private spacecraft to the International Space Station. The launch was delayed from its originally scheduled slot on May 27 due to poor weather conditions.
It is the first launch of American astronauts from US soil since 2011, which saw the final flight of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. It is SpaceX's first manned flight as well as the first time a commercial spacecraft has carried NASA astronauts.
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The mission, called Demo-2, will launch NASA astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken into orbit on a Crew Dragon spacecraft powered by a Falcon 9 rocket. Liftoff was scheduled for May 27 at 4:33 p.m. Eastern from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Unfortunately, SpaceX called off the launch due to poor weather conditions, including a tornado advisory.
Demo-2 is now scheduled for today (Saturday, May 30) at 3:22 p.m. Eastern. However, there is a 60% chance of unfavorable weather today, as well as during the backup launch window on Sunday, May 31, Space.com reported. The next opportunity would be on June 1.
Here's a guide on how to watch the SpaceX Crew Dragon launch live, here or on NASA TV, cable networks and other streaming sites:
SpaceX Crew Dragon launch: What to know
The SpaceX Crew Dragon crew members are commander Douglas Hurley and astronaut Robert Behnken, who both joined the astronaut corps in 2000.
The Crew Dragon will launch on top of a Falcon 9 rocket with 1.7 million pounds of thrust from the first stage engines. Once out of the lower atmosphere, SpaceX will attempt to land the first stage on an off-shore drone ship while the second stage continues into orbit.
Once in orbit, the Crew Dragon will make its way to the International Space Station. Hurley and Behnken will join three others already at the station, including commander Chris Cassidy and two Russian cosmonauts working on scientific research.
How to watch SpaceX Crew Dragon launch live online
There are many options for watching the SpaceX Crew Dragon launch live. Due to the launch delay, these live streams will now take place on May 30.
NASA is live-streaming the event on YouTube channel and its website.
NASA TV is airing the launch as well. You may get the channel with your cable package or you can add it as a Roku channel or stream it for free on Pluto TV.
SpaceX will also be live-streaming on its YouTube channel.
Discovery and the Science Channel are airing Space Launch Live: America Returns to Space.
ABC and the National Geographic Channel are teaming up for Launch America: Mission to Space Live.
SpaceX Crew Dragon launch: NASA live stream schedule
Here is the schedule for NASA's multi-platform live stream of the SpaceX Crew Dragon launch:
Friday, May 29
- 10 a.m. – NASA’s SpaceX Demonstration Mission 2 Administrator briefing (All Channels)
- 11 a.m. - SpaceCast Weekly (All Channels)
Saturday, May 30
- 11 a.m. - Live launch coverage of the SpaceX/DM-2 Crew Dragon Mission to the International Space Station: launch scheduled at 3:22 p.m. EDT - Kennedy Space Center/Hawthorne, California/Johnson Space Center (All Channels)
- 6:30 p.m. - SpaceX Demonstration Mission 2 post-launch news conference (Public Channel)
Sunday, May 31
- 10:29 a.m. - Docking of the SpaceX/DM-2 Crew Dragon and NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to the International Space Station - Hawthorne, California/Johnson Space Center (All Channels)
- 12:45 p.m. - SpaceX/Crew Dragon hatch opening to the International Space Station - Hawthorne, California/Johnson Space Center (All Channels)
- 1:15 p.m. - SpaceX/Crew Dragon and International Space Station crew welcoming event aboard the International Space Station (All Channels)
- 3:15 p.m. - SpaceX/Dragon DM-2 post-docking briefing (All Channels)
- 4:30 p.m. - Video file feed of SpaceX/DM-2 rendezvous, docking, hatch opening and welcoming ceremony (Media Channel)
Monday, June 1
- 11:15 a.m. – International Space Station Expedition 63 crew news conference with Commander Chris Cassidy and astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley of NASA (All Channels)
- 12:55 p.m. – International Space Station Expedition 63 in-flight event with SpaceX Officials and employees in Hawthorne, California (All Channels)
