A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket is scheduled for launch on the night of Monday, June 24, 2019, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It’s the third launch, and first nighttime launch, for the Falcon Heavy, the most powerful rocket in use today.
SpaceX and the U.S. Department of Defense will launch two dozen satellites into space. SpaceX founder Elon Musk tweeted that it will be SpaceX’s “most difficult launch ever”, because the rocket must release the 24 satellites into three different orbits.
The launch window for the Falcon Heavy opens at 11:30 p.m. EDT Monday, June 24 (03:30 UTC on June 25 translate UTC to your time), with a four-hour window in case of delays. The launch will air on NASA TV, with coverage beginning at 11:00 p.m. EDT (03:30 UTC on June 25). Watch here.
The mission is called Space Test Program-2 (STP-2). Among the two dozen satellites onboard the rocket are NASA missions to test the performance of non-toxic spacecraft fuel and an advanced atomic clock to improve spacecraft navigation.
In addition, the rocket will carry 152 metal capsules packed with human ashes, arranged by a company called Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, which charges upwards of $5,000 to fly 1 gram of “participant” cremains into orbit.
The rocket will also carry Lightsail 2, a solar-sail test mission – a little spacecraft literally powered by sunbeams – promoted by science star Bill Nye.
SpaceX Falcon Heavy demonstration launch in February 2018. Monday’s launch will be a night launch. Image via NASA
Bottom line: The SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket carrying 24 satellites will launch on June 24, 2019.
Source:
https://earthsky.org/space/watch-night-launch-spacex-falcon-heavy-june24-2019