Community Corner

16 Days of Summer: Time for a Free, Very Cool Rocket Launch

When is the end of summer? Not until you watch a night flight into space — from your yard.

by Greg Hambrick

There’s a unique opportunity for stargazers tonight, Friday, Sept. 6. If you look up, you might spot a rocket launch off the Virginia coast.
The last day of summer is Sept. 21. Or, you can look at it this way: The first day of fall is Sept. 22. Patch has found something for you to do each day as we count down until summer passes us by.

Check our events calendar to see what’s happening in our community, and add your own events!

Tonight, you should be able to spot the Minotaur V rocket launch from NASA's Wallops Island facility. Hope for a clear night: The launch window is from 11:27 p.m. to 11:31 p.m.

While the mission won't land on the moon, the rocket is designed to orbit it, marking the first time the Virginia facility will host a launch that streaks beyond the Earth's orbit.

Have you seen rocket launches before? Share it with us in the comments section.

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