| All systems are looking good for Crew Dragon’s first flight with astronauts. Credit: SpaceX |
Watch the First All-American Astronaut Launch in 9 Years!
Witness history being made! Today, American astronauts are being launched into space on an American rocket from American soil—and you can watch it all live!
Here at the Almanac, we recognize the historic significance of returning human spaceflight to the United States after 9 years!
The entrepreneurial American company SpaceX will launch the Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to the International Space Station. On board will be two NASA astronauts, Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley.
We’ll all be watching. As well as recording history, we are huge space buffs! Ever since it was founded in 1792 (during George Washington’s first term as president!), the Almanac has had being a “calendar of the heavens” as its core mission. (Speaking of missions!)
The Weather Prediction?
Of course, weather is always a concern. Based on our long-range prediction made over a year ago, Florida weather forecast was predicted as: “May 18–31 Scattered t-storms, warm.” That’s spot on—and presents a cautionary note.
As of this writing, there’s a 40% chance that clouds and foul weather will keep Falcon 9 on the ground. If this happens, NASA and SpaceX will simply wait until Saturday (May 30) to try again. So, keep an eye on today’s weather forecast!
Where to Watch LIVE
3 .. . 2 . . . 1 . . . liftoff!
The official liftoff is scheduled for today, Wednesday, May 27, at 4:33 p.m. EDT (20:33 UTC). As we’ve mentioned, the first rain date is Saturday, May 30, at 3:22 p.m. EDT; the second is Sunday, May 31, at 3:00 p.m. EDT.
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| American astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley. Credit: NASA. |
A Few Fun Facts About the ISS
The astronauts are headed to the International Space Station. They’ll dock at 11:39 a.m. on Thursday. We thought that we’d share a few fun facts: - The International Space Station, or ISS, is home to all space pioneers. It was created as the result of unprecedented scientific and engineering collaboration among five space agencies representing 15 countries.
- The space station is approximately the size of a football field orbiting 250 miles above Earth. The ISS circles Earth every 90 minutes.
- It is the third brightest object in the sky and easy to spot if you know when to look up. It looks like a fast-moving plane—but is much higher. To find out when you can see the ISS in your area, go to: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/
- Did you know that astronauts are growing fruit and vegetables in outer space? They’ve grown over 40 different varieties, including lettuce, broccoli, small squash, and sunflower. Today, they grow mostly lettuce aboard the ISS and eat the fresh greens. Watching plants grow reminds the astronauts of home, which improves their moods and helps with homesickness. Gardening is a tonic for us all!
Good luck and Godspeed to our astronauts!
The Old Farmer’s Almanac Editors |
