Cape Canaveral, Florida, is preparing for an exciting space mission that could see two significant launches within hours of each other. SpaceX is gearing up for a potential Starlink launch followed by a Boeing Starliner liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Navigational warnings suggest that these launches could occur within a tight timeframe of just 11 hours on Monday.
While SpaceX has not officially confirmed its plans, information from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and Coast Guard bulletins indicate a potential Starlink launch window opening from 11:34 a.m. to 4:05 p.m. EDT on Monday. Following this, the focus will shift to the highly anticipated liftoff of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, at 10:34 p.m.
Weather conditions are expected to be favorable, with a 95% likelihood of good weather for the Starliner launch on Monday night. NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are set to embark on a test-flight journey to the International Space Station aboard the Starliner, marking a significant milestone in crewed space transportation.
Following liftoff, the astronauts are scheduled to dock with the ISS around 12:46 a.m. on Wednesday, after approximately 26½ hours of travel. This mission will only be the sixth time that NASA has launched a new crewed spacecraft, showcasing the agency’s continued commitment to space exploration and innovation.
Once aboard the ISS, Williams and Wilmore will engage in various activities focused on testing the capabilities of the Starliner spacecraft. Their primary tasks will include evaluating emergency equipment, verifying operational procedures, and preparing for future long-duration missions in space.
For the latest updates on the upcoming launches and space missions from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, readers can visit floridatoday.com/space. Stay tuned for more information and insights into these groundbreaking events shaping the future of space exploration.