NASA ‘Flying Saucer’ Launch Today Monday June 8th Is Go
Follow progress here.
The LDSD launch support team is go to report to stations tonight at 9 p.m. HST to begin preparations for a Monday, June 8, 7:30 a.m. HST (1:30 p.m. EDT) launch attempt from the U.S. Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai, Hawaii. NASA Television and JPL’s Ustream channel will carry live coverage of the launch beginning at 7 a.m. HST (1 p.m. EDT). The scientific balloon will begin inflation at 6:15 a.m. HST and after launch will take about three hours to reach its float altitude of 120,000 feet. About 45 minutes after the balloon reaches test altitude, the saucer-shaped LDSD test vehicle will be dropped and its powered flight will begin.
The 2- to 3-hour journey will take the LDSD to an altitude of 120,000 feet, where it will be released. Four small rockets will kick in and spin the flying saucer, followed by a Star 48B long-nozzle, solid-fueled rocket with 17,500 pounds of thrust, which will take the craft up another 60,000 feet, according to NASA.
Photos
This is the second test flight. VIEW HERE.