CRS
SpaceX is launching the 18th resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
The booster is a new Block 5 on its second flight and will return back to land.
The cargo mission to the ISS will launch from SLC 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Launch time moved to 22:24 and chances of weather permitting are only at 30%.
Not to worry if they can't launch. There is still a possibility for fireballs. Check below!
An important payload will be the 3rd International Docking Adapter (IDA). It will be carried in the unpressurized trunk of Dragon.
Currently, arriving ships are being birthed to the ISS. That means they arrive on station at a safe distance and the grappling arm moves them to the port.
The IDA will enable autonomous docking for future ships - like the new Dragon capsule from SpaceX or the new Starliner built by Boeing.
The Sojus capsule is already docking to the ISS.
The first IDA was lost on CRS-7.
Launch window opens at 22:24 UTC (July 24th 2019).
You can watch the live stream here approximately 15 minutes before lift off.
Background information about previous launches at Wikipedia
StarHopper
At the same time Tim Dodd - The Everyday Astronaut - is live streaming the first free 20 m jump of StarHopper
StarHopper is the test bed for the new Starship - an evolution of the space ship formerly known as "Big Fucking Rocket".
The test vehicle looks like a water tower and is called StarHopper. Just as the testbed for the Falcon 9 was known as Grass Hopper.
Last time they were going for a static fire test where the Hopper was tied to the ground.
It was a success for the engine. But a huge fireball - not an explosion - happened shortly after. This caused a delay until today.
Everyday Astronaut Live Stream
You can probably watch both streams in parallel because StarHopper tests usually take some time.
When: 22:24 UTC.
Check your local time at:
https://www.timeanddate.com
@remind-me on 24th July 2019 22:00
