More space launches coming up, folks.

Early tomorrow, from New Zealand, Rocket Lab is set to launch their Electron rocket with a window of 2:00 - 4:00 a.m. Eastern. This mission will deploy an Air Force Research Laboratory-sponsored R&D satellite, called Monolith, designed to explore the use of large deployable sensors on small spacecraft. Live coverage at LINK and also on Youtube for replays.

On Friday, a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket will launch Boeing's Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 Starliner spacecraft on its Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) to the International Space Station (ISS). OFT-2 is the second uncrewed flight of the Starliner that will demonstrate the spacecraft's human transportation capabilities. This test flight is the last major step before the Atlas V and Boeing's Starliner capsule take American astronauts to the International Space Station as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. Liftoff is set for 2:53 p.m. Eastern from Cape Canaveral. It will be carried live on NASA TV and at ulalaunch.com

Thanks!

Fire in the hole

The RocketLab mission was successful. Video can be seen HERE.

I'll provide updates on the ULA/Boeing/NASA launch set for Friday afternoon as I get them.

The ULA launch has been delayed to at least August 3 due to a problem at the Space Station. (The new Russian science module launched last week is living up to its "made in Russia" reputation.)

You can still see a launch today, though. Arianespace is launching two more geosynchronous communications satellites from Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 heavy-lift rocket. Launch window is 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. Eastern. Watch it HERE