Colorful rocket launch this evening for the eastern lower-48

Expect a colorful display Saturday evening as NASA is scheduled to launch a rocket from the agency’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia for a special space experiment. This launch will be visible for a good chunk of the East Coast.

The NASA launch was originally scheduled for 8:02 p.m. Saturday, May 8th; however, due to weather, the launch has continually been postponed. This is the 4th attempt at launch. The new launch time is today (Tuesday) at 8:05 p.m. NASA indicates there is just under an hour window for the launch, so a launch just a tad later than 8:05 p.m. may occur. A map provided by NASA suggests the rocket may be visible for a good chunk of the East Coast as well as most areas east of the Mississippi River.

The launch will be visible within 10-seconds of the launch for the Mid-Atlantic, with the Carolinas and Northeast seeing the launch within 30-seconds of the launch, and areas farther west seeing the launch within 60-seconds of the launch time.

Want to view the launch? Good news, no special equipment is required. You will not need a telescope or binoculars. All you need is Mother Nature to allow for clear skies in your area. Unfortunately, weather appears to be an issue again this evening for the launch, but we shall see!