SpaceX preps Falcon 9 launch: Where can you watch the rocket blast off?
In other news, Elon Musk is launching another rocket. While his SpaceX rockets designed to go to Mars have stopped crashing & burning after every test, the latest SpaceX launch is a little more routine.
For a couple of years now, SpaceX has assisted in ferrying cargo to & from the International Space Station. As we speak, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has been moved vertically to prepare for the CRS-22 mission and is leaving Earth for the ISS tomorrow at 1:29 pm ET.
If you ever wanted to watch a rocket launch into space, tomorrow is your chance! Check out the best places to watch the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch tomorrow!
First, what is the Falcon 9?
SpaceX’s website boasted the Falcon 9 as a unique rocket since it’s the “first orbital-class rocket capable of reflight”. According to their site, the SpaceX Falcon 9 has had a total of 118 launches, seventy-eight landings, and sixty-four re-launches. SpaceX explained its reusability is thanks to Falcon 9’s Merlin engine, specifically designed to be reused rather than burn up.
SpaceX’s website further explained: “Falcon 9 is a reusable, two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of people and payloads into Earth orbit and beyond. Falcon 9 is the world’s first orbital class reusable rocket. Reusability allows SpaceX to refly the most expensive parts of the rocket, which in turn drives down the cost of space access.”
SpaceX offers stats on the Falcon 9 rocket, including its payload to reach Mars. SpaceX places Falcon 9’s payload to Mars at 4,020 kg or 8,860 lbs. SpaceX further lists the Falcon 9’s height at 229.6 ft (70 m), diameter of 12 ft (3.7 m), and mass at over 1 million lbs!
What’s the CRS-22 mission?
CRS-22 is SpaceX’s twenty-second cargo mission to the International Space Station. According to EarthSky, the Falcon 9 they’ll launch in is brand-new. Plus, the cargo they’re shipping to the ISS is interesting.
SpaceX is delivering science materials on its launch tomorrow, including research instruments & crew supplies. However, it will also bring tiny organisms for bioresearch – EarthSky mentioned bobcat squid and tardigrades.
Tardigrades are cute, little microscopic critters who can survive long stints in space. However, Popular Mechanics noted that they didn’t evolve specifically to survive in space, as a VICE documentary claimed, nor did they come from outer space as a popular conspiracy theory surmises. Rather, Popular Mechanics stated they evolved the ability to survive in space in case of water shortages.
It’s unclear what research these little tardigrades will face after the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch, but their uncanny ability to survive deep space conditions and their ability to enter something called “the tun state” – a condition where tardigrades don’t age when faced with certain conditions – could be piquing space scientists’ interest.
Falcon 9 and Dragon went vertical on the pad last night ahead of tomorrow’s launch → https://t.co/bJFjLCzWdK pic.twitter.com/8KDbygzLxK
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 2, 2021
Watch the launch
Not only can you tune in easily to the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch tomorrow, but you can also tune in for free! NASA’s YouTube channel will go live to broadcast the launch from their own Kennedy Space station tomorrow. SpaceX will also livestream the launch from their Twitter account.
Speaking of Twitter, you can also prepare for the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch by checking out some hilarious memes roasting & celebrating the upcoming event.
Doge to the moon pic.twitter.com/fl4rg7yHv7
— Mohamed Enieb (@its_menieb) June 2, 2021
As we speak, Elon Musk’s fans are excited about Dogecoin’s rise in popularity. To the moon indeed!
— Yonal_Wijesuriya (@yonalwijesuriya) June 2, 2021
On the other hand, there’s an uncanny resemblance between Musk and his astronauts and Star Wars. Maybe Musk will rule a future galactic empire? We hope not!
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Will you tune into the SpaceX launch tomorrow? Let us know in the comments!
