Florida’s Space Coast is busy this morning with SpaceX launching private astronauts on the Polaris Dawn mission.
Update from 05:40 am:
SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft at 5:23 a.m. from KSC.
Click on the video below to watch the launch of the Polaris Dawn mission:
Four private astronauts are on board for the five-day Polaris Dawn mission.
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SpaceX confirms main booster separation and successful landing of its “Just Read the Instructions” drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
Main engine shutdown and phase separation confirmed. Second phase engine burn in progress
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 10, 2024
SpaceX reported that the Polaris crew entered a state of weightlessness.
The crew will now prepare for Thursday’s spacewalk, the first to be conducted by commercial astronauts.
Stay tuned to WFTV.com and Eyewitness News for updates on the Polaris Dawn mission.
Update from 5:00 am:
SpaceX says Polaris Dawn is “ready for launch” at 5:23 a.m.
Original story:
The mission has been postponed several times over the past two weeks.
Less than an hour before the scheduled launch at 3:38 a.m. Tuesday, the company announced that weather conditions were not cooperating.
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SpaceX said it is now targeting a 5:23 a.m. launch this morning
The Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft will launch from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Due to unfavorable weather at the launch site, the Falcon 9 launch is now scheduled for 5:23 a.m. ET @PolarisProgram‘s Polaris Dawn mission to orbit Earth
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 10, 2024
The mission aims to send four private astronauts aboard the spacecraft to the highest Earth orbit since the Apollo program.
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The crew will also conduct the first private spacewalk.
Channel 9’s Melonie Holt is on the Space Coast to cover this morning’s launch.
When the time comes, you can watch the live launch on Channel 9 and by clicking here.
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