SpaceX and NASA will attempt to launch a manned rocket into space tonight, following a failed first attempt on Wednesday.
NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley will be launched into space on board a Falcon 9 rocket, on a 400 kilometre journey to the International Space Station.
While the launch is taking place from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 15:22 EDT (20:22 BST), there’s a chance you’ll be able to see the rocket from the UK shortly after launch.
Dr Marco Langbroek, a satellite tracker based in the Netherlands, has revealed that the rocket will be visible from the UK around two hours after the launch.
He posted a map of the rocket’s trajectory to Twitter, writing: “The SpaceX #CrewDragon Demo-2 ground track for the new launch date of 30 May, 19:22:45 UT.”
While the map appears to show the rocket passing over the UK at 19:42 BST, unfortunately it won’t be visible at that point, as it will still be light.
However, Dr Langbroek says that the rocket may be visible from the UK on its second orbit.
Replying to a question about whether the rocket will be visible from the UK, he said: “Not on the first orbit directly after launch: the sun is still up. From southern UK maybe on the second revolution near 22:17 BST, but very, very low above the horizon, so a challenge.”
Dr Robert Massey, Deputy Executive Director at the Royal Astronomical Society, added that there’s a chance we’ll see the rocket several times on its way to the ISS.
Speaking to Mirror Online, he said: “Dragon is scheduled to launch at 2022 BST, and given that the vehicle takes about 20 minutes to pass over the UK (assuming the same flight path) it won't be visible as it'll still be daylight.
“There's a chance it can be seen on later passages as it manoeuvres to the ISS."
Weather forecast across the UK tonight
The UK is set for a scorcher today, with temperatures of up to 25 C across the country.
And thankfully, the Met Office has confirmed that there are clear skies forecast across the UK tonight.
Speaking to Mirror Online, a spokesperson from the Met Office said: “After a warm and sunny day on Saturday, skies across the UK will stay clear through Saturday evening.”
Forecaster Alex Burkhill on Saturday morning confirmed the weather outlook was largely unchanged.
He said the skies were expected to be clear across the UK tonight, with a chance of cloud in the north-east of England and Wales obscuring some views.
Despite the rocket flying in lighter conditions, the low-flying object should be more visible than stars and satellites are at twilight across the UK skies at twilight so it was likely to still be somewhat visible, he added.
Skygazers in the south of the UK are likely to have the best view of the Dragon spacecraft, but given the clear skies across the UK, other eagle-eyed Brits may be able to see it too.
However Mr Burkhill warned the weather situation in the US remained a concern.
There was still a 50% chance of lightning, which could see the launch cancelled again.
