SpaceX is due to launch their latest mission, CRS-6, this afternoon at 4:33pm EDT. A live stream of the launch is scheduled to begin at 4:15 EDT.
CRS-6 includes a Dragon space capsule to resupply the International Space Station. More exciting, though (yes, we’ve already moved past Dragon docking with the ISS as exciting) is that the Falcon 9’s first stage booster is going to attempt a controlled descent and touchdown on what SpaceX describes as “an autonomous spaceport drone ship” in the Atlantic about nine minutes after launch – so don’t shut off that webcast once the rocket clears the tower. The first attempt to landing the Falcon 9 stage one on a barge ended badly when the rocket exploded on contact with the barge. A second attempt was scrubbed due to bad weather, but the company is hopeful today’s recovery will go well and provide the foundation for a future for reusable rockets.
