Home Rocket launch tonight: Should be visible on Chincoteague Island, East Coast
Local

Rocket launch tonight: Should be visible on Chincoteague Island, East Coast

Crystal Graham

Wallops Island launch rescheduled due to weather; liftoff on Tuesday, 6-8 p.m.

Wallops Island launch
Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket stands atop the company’s Launch Complex-2 on NASA’s Wallops Island.
Credits: Rocket Lab

NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility will support the launch of Rocket Lab USA’s first Electron rocket from Virginia tonight some time between 6-8 p.m. Weather for the rescheduled launch is 90 percent favorable.

The mission, named “Virginia is for Launch Lovers,” will deploy radio frequency monitoring satellites for HawkEye 360.

“Virginia is for Lovers” is the slogan for the Virginia Tourism Corporation with numerous variations: “Virginia is for Outdoor Lovers,” “Virginia is for Racing Lovers,” and “Virginia is for Wine Lovers,” to name a few.

The 59-foot-tall Electron rocket will lift off from Launch Complex 2 at Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island.

With this mission, NASA is helping foster a growing low-Earth space economy and continues Wallops’ 35-year history of support to the commercial launch industry.

The launch may be visible, weather permitting, to residents throughout much of the east coast of the U.S.

Viewing locations on Chincoteague Island include Robert Reed Park on Main Street or Beach Road spanning the area between Chincoteague and Assateague Islands. The Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Atlantic beaches also provide good viewing locations.

The NASA Visitor Center at Wallops will be open for this launch.

A live launch webcast will be available at www.rocketlabusa.com/live-stream beginning about 40 minutes before launch.

 

Featured Video

 




Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, Crystal Graham has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of "Virginia Tonight," a nightly TV news show, both broadcast on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television. You can reach her at [email protected]. Support AFP by signing up for our newsletter and/or powering our work with a one-time or monthly contribution.

Latest News

John Szefc Virginia Tech
Baseball

Virginia Tech agrees to extension with baseball coach John Szefc

uva nov 13 graphic
Football, Go 'Hoos

Doc on UVA Football murders set for world premiere at Virginia Film Festival

The NFL Films documentary “Tragedy to Triumph,” which tells the story of the 2022 murders of three UVA Football players, is set for a world premiere at the Virginia Film Festival on Sunday, Oct. 25.

larry mitchell
Baseball

Charlottesville High School alum Larry Mitchell made MLB debut 30 years ago

Charlottesville native Larry Mitchell was in the bullpen at old Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia on an August day 30 years ago, having just been called up from Triple-A by the Phillies. Radford native and ex-Virginia Tech star Mike Williams (144 career saves) was making a rare start for the home team, and it wasn’t going...

police car
Local

Two dead in Manassas shooting; suspect died by self-inflicted wound in Augusta County

earth
Trump's America

Earl Zimmerman | Latest climate and energy news headlines

flock License plate reader police
Region/State

Rockingham County sheriff fails in attempt to defend use of Flock cameras

cyber bullying
Local

Why is a News Leader reporter still picking a dumb fight with us?