If all goes according to plan four
space rockets will launch from three different countries between
8 p.m. Wednesday and 8 p.m. Thursday Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
First, a Japanese H-2A rocket will
launch at 8:17 p.m. EDT Wednesday carrying the Michibiki-2
navigation satellite, part of the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System. The
launch will take place at the Tanegashima Space Center on Tanegashima
Island, Japan.
Second, a NASA
Terrier-Improved Malemute sounding rocket will launch at 4:27 a.m.
EDT Thursday and release ten
canisters into space about the size of a soft drink can. The
canisters will produce blue-green and red vapor clouds visible in the sky. These clouds, or vapor tracers, allow scientists on the ground to
visually track particle motions in space. The launch will take place
at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Va.
Third,
a SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle will launch at 5:55 p.m. EDT Thursday carrying a Dragon
cargo ship for the International Space Station. The launch will take
place at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Fourth,
a European Ariane 5 rocket will launch at 7:45 p.m. EDT Thursday carrying the
ViaSat-2 and Eutelsat
172B communications satellites. The launch will take place at the
Guiana Space Center, French Guiana, South America.
Keep
an eye on the DCNewsroom Live Video Events page to watch these
launches.
