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SpaceX
Falcon 9 rocket and NASA TESS exoplanet hunter poised for liftoff from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL, on April 18 at 6:51 pm EDT. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
Ken Kremer — SpaceUpClose.com — 18 April 2018
KENNEDY SPACE
CENTER, FL – After Mondays planned launch of NASA’s TESS exoplanet hunter was
scrubbed due to problems with the Falcon 9 rockets Guidance, Navigation and
Control (GNC) system, SpaceX and NASA have rescheduled the launch to this evening
Wednesday, 18, Florida’s Spaceport.
CENTER, FL – After Mondays planned launch of NASA’s TESS exoplanet hunter was
scrubbed due to problems with the Falcon 9 rockets Guidance, Navigation and
Control (GNC) system, SpaceX and NASA have rescheduled the launch to this evening
Wednesday, 18, Florida’s Spaceport.
TESS
is scheduled to blast off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 6:51 p.m. EDT Wednesday,
April 18 from seaside Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station.
is scheduled to blast off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 6:51 p.m. EDT Wednesday,
April 18 from seaside Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station.
The
launch window lasts a short 30 seconds.
launch window lasts a short 30 seconds.
The
rocket was lowered back down at pad 40 after Monday’s scrub about T Minus hours
before liftoff so that SpaceX engineers could evaluate an issue with the GNC
system.
rocket was lowered back down at pad 40 after Monday’s scrub about T Minus hours
before liftoff so that SpaceX engineers could evaluate an issue with the GNC
system.
With
the GNC issues apparently resolved, the rocket was raised vertical again early
this morning and countdown preparations resumed.
the GNC issues apparently resolved, the rocket was raised vertical again early
this morning and countdown preparations resumed.
The
Falcon 9 and TESS are poised for liftoff at sunset today.
Falcon 9 and TESS are poised for liftoff at sunset today.
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SpaceX
Falcon 9 rocket and NASA TESS exoplanet hunter were raised vertical early April 18 after resolving GNC issues. They are poised for liftoff from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL, on April 18 at 6:51 pm EDT. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
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Up close
view of NASA TESS exoplanet hunter encapsulated inside the nose cone atop SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket poised for liftoff from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL, on April 18 at 6:51 pm EDT. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
The weather outlook
is excellent with a greater than 90 percent chance of acceptable conditions at
launch time.
TESS is poised
for launch from the Florida Space Coast today, Wednesday April 18 on an
inspiring mission to discover new Earth like habitable worlds beyond our Solar
System.
for launch from the Florida Space Coast today, Wednesday April 18 on an
inspiring mission to discover new Earth like habitable worlds beyond our Solar
System.
“It’s launch day! @NASA_TESS will launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from SLC 40 at
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,” said NASA.
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,” said NASA.
“Everything is progressing smoothly for a
6:51 PM ET liftoff. Weather is holding at 90% “Go”.
6:51 PM ET liftoff. Weather is holding at 90% “Go”.
Check out our gallery of up close
images taken today and Monday during the media remote camera setup.
images taken today and Monday during the media remote camera setup.
If you can’t personally be here to witness
the launch in Florida, you can always watch NASA’s live coverage on NASA
Television and the agency’s website.
the launch in Florida, you can always watch NASA’s live coverage on NASA
Television and the agency’s website.
The NASA TESS launch coverage will
be broadcast on NASA TV beginning at 6:30
p.m. Apr. 18 with additional commentary on the NASA launch blog.
be broadcast on NASA TV beginning at 6:30
p.m. Apr. 18 with additional commentary on the NASA launch blog.
SpaceX will also offer their own
live webcast beginning approximately 15
minutes before launch at about 6:35 p.m. EDT.
live webcast beginning approximately 15
minutes before launch at about 6:35 p.m. EDT.
You can
watch the launch live at NASA TV at – http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv
watch the launch live at NASA TV at – http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv
You can also
watch the launch live at SpaceX hosted Webcast at – spacex.com/webcast
watch the launch live at SpaceX hosted Webcast at – spacex.com/webcast
Watch for Ken’s continuing onsite coverage of NASA’s TESS,
SpaceX, ULA, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Orbital ATK and more space and mission
reports direct from the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station, Florida.
SpaceX, ULA, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Orbital ATK and more space and mission
reports direct from the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station, Florida.
Stay tuned here for Ken’s continuing
Earth and Planetary science and human spaceflight news: www.kenkremer.com –www.spaceupclose.com –
twitter @ken_kremer – ken
at kenkremer.com
Earth and Planetary science and human spaceflight news: www.kenkremer.com –www.spaceupclose.com –
twitter @ken_kremer – ken
at kenkremer.com
