HOUSTON – After the first attempt was scrubbed because of weather, history is set to be made Saturday as Americans return to space from U.S. soil for the first time in nearly a decade.
The Demo 2 mission, which is scheduled to blast off at 2:22 p.m. Central time from launchpad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, aims to prove that a commercial company can safely deliver people into low-Earth orbit. The goal is for NASA to become a customer rather than the provider of low-Earth orbit projects and allow the space agency to focus on longer-term missions like returning to the moon and landing people on Mars.
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Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley will board the SpaceX Dragon capsule atop the company’s Falcon 9 rocket in order to reach the International Space Station. Rendezvous with the station is scheduled to happen on Sunday morning.
If Saturday’s launch is scrubbed, there is a third launch window on Sunday.
How to watch
Here are a few ways for you to watch Saturday’s launch.
KPRC 2
KPRC 2 will offer live coverage of the launch on-air starting at 2 p.m. However, leading up to the launch you can watch NASA’s prelaunch coverage starting at 10 a.m. Once our stream begins, you’ll find it on this page.
WKMG-TV
KPRC 2′s sister station in Orlando, Florida, is also extensively covering the launch. Go to ClickOrlando.com for more of WKMG’s coverage. We’ll provide one of their video feeds on this page when it becomes available.
NASA
NASA is also offering live coverage on-air and online. For channel listings or to find the livestream, go to nasa.gov. The agency is also giving people the opportunity to enjoy the launch virtually, but registration is required. Go to nasa.gov/beourguest for more information.
SpaceX
SpaceX will also stream the launch on the company’s website at spacex.com/launches.