If all goes well, at 12:25 PM EDT this afternoon, Boeing’s long-awaited Crewed Flight Test will lift of atop an Atlas V and on its way to low-Earth orbit. It will be the first time that Atlas V has carried crew, the first time at Starliner has carried crew, and the first crewed launch at Cape Canaveral in decades.

If all goes well.

Keep that in mind, as you hear mission controllers and official give details of the countdown as it proceeds.

Any rocket launch always has a long line of checkpoints, any of which can delay or even scrub the countdown. Until the rocket actually lifts off the pad, you can never be 100% certain that it is going to fly that day because everything has to work properly, or else mission controllers will wisely say, “We’re not going to space today.”

That is how it should be, and that’s how it will be today, especially with the lives of two astronauts at stake.

At the same time, the astronauts, engineers, technicians and staff at ULA, Boeing and NASA have diligently prepared for Starliner CFT, and they have tested, retested, and then tested again. They say the vehicle is ready. The astronauts say they are ready. And Space Station eagerly awaits their arrival, because Starliner was drafted at the last minute to carry a critical piece of hardware to the orbiting outpost.

Godspeed, Starliner.

Launch Time: 12:25 PM EDT.

Liftoff is scheduled for 12:25 PM EDT today, Saturday, June 1st.

The launch window is instantaneous, which means that Atlas V must lift off at its scheduled time, and that it cannot be delayed until later the same afternoon. This is normal for ISS launches because docking with the ISS requires efficiently matching the speed and position of the ISS, which moves at 7.7 km every second. Timing the launch to within a second greatly simplifies chasing down the orbiting outpost.

Starliner will be carried to orbit aboard an Atlas V N22, a crew-rated variant of the Atlas V 422. This version of Atlas V has two solid motor strap-on boosters with two liquid-fueled stages.

Trajectory: Northeast

As Starliner is planned to launch on a northeasterly trajectory, as is customary for ISS-bound launches. Space Coast residents may recall that previous SpaceX cargo resupply and Commercial Crew missions take the same path.

Launch viewers facing the Atlantic Ocean will see the rocket fly right-to-left as it ascends.

Weather: 90% Go, Winds Are A Concern

The 45th Weather Squadron’s official Launch Mission Execution Forecast gives 90% probability of acceptable atmospheric conditions at the launch sites and through Atlas V and Starliner’s ascent corridor.

One concern is wind. Mark Burger, launch weather officer at the 45th Weather Squadron said that, “There is one watch item,” he said, “And that is the local winds. It’s already turning breezy out of there with sort of a stiff onshore flow, and that’s what we’ll be monitoring for tomorrow as well.”

Burger added, “Again, [we’re] not considering any rain or thunderstorms, maybe a few clouds, bu not anything concerning for us. The winds will be a little feisty tomorrow not only in terms of the magnitude of the winds, but also the direction of the winds. [There will be] a pretty good onshore component, nearly perpendicular to the coast. That tightens or restricts us just a little bit in terms of favorability. But again, now, winds, as you know, are a highly variable factor both in time and space. So hopefully we’ll be able to to get off without a hitch.”

Sky Cover

The National Weather Service is expecting roughly 50% cloud coverage late tomorrow morning. The launch should be well visible to most spectators, but clouds may block others.

Booster Recovery

None. Atlas V is a fully expendable launch system, so after Main Engine Cutoff of the first stage, it will seperate and fall into the Atlantic Ocean. Atlas V’s second stage, a dual-engine Centaur, will be purposely re-entered after Starliner separation.

Watching Online

SpaceCoastLaunchCalendar.com will have a livestream of the launch if you’re not able to watch the launch in person: Livestream

United Launch Alliance will have a livestream of the launch on their website: ULA Crewed Flight Test

Boeing is also offering a livestream of the launch: Boeing Starliner Crewed Flight Test

Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link

Remember that there is a delay between a launch stream and the actual countdown clock. That is simply because of physics: it takes time for the signal to travel from the launch site, through the Internet, and back down to your phone, resulting in a five to fifteen-second delay.

Next Spaceflight, an app for iOS and Android phones, has a real-time countdown clock that is accurate to a second, give or take. The app is free. Search the App Store or Google Play.

Launch Viewing: In Person

This morning’s planned launch is from SLC-40, on the south side of the Eastern Range (KSC and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station combined.) The southern parks in Titusville on Washington Avenue and FL-528/A1A in Cape Canaveral are the best spots to watch liftoff directly.

• Banana River Bridge on FL-528 W in Cape Canaveral
• Kennedy Point Park in Titusville
• Rotary Riverfront Park in Titusville

Restaurants With Good Launch Views

Given the early hours of the launch window (7:30AM – 11:30AM EDT) these restaurants may not be open for launch viewing. Later in the day, all three may well be, so if you are interested, be sure to call ahead to make sure they’ll be ready to serve you.

• The Space Bar ($$$) – atop the Courtyard Marriott near Kennedy Parkway
• New York New York ($$) – on the Indian River with an outdoor seating area. Is family-friendly.
• Shiloh’s ($$$) — located on the Indian River with an outdoor deck overlooking KSC/CCSFS

Indirect Views

There are several excellent viewing spots for SLC-40 launches that offer indirect views — meaning you won’t see the rocket until it clears obstructions such as trees, buildings, even a storm berm in one case.

• Jetty Park, Port Canaveral
  • Fee required, much be purchased in advance: Port Canaveral Store
  • It’s very possible to see a cruise ship coming or going.
  • The pier especially has great views
• Cocoa Beach
  • Parking fees (probably). Pay with your smartphone on the parking app. There are signs everywhere telling you how.
  • Further away, but still good views.
• Northern Titusville Parks
  • Further away, but really nice views.

You can also view the launch from the area beaches, which will have good views of the ascending rocket after it clears any ground obstructions.

Be prepared for potential changes or pushbacks in the launch schedule, and keep up by monitoring the live stream links mentioned above.

Keep up with launch news and other space events that affect the local area by subscribing to alerts when we publish a new article by entering your email at the link at the bottom of this page, or by visiting Space Talk here on the website. It’s free, and you can cancel at any time.