NASA is going to try to launch New Horizons again today. This would be the third attempt, and today's launch window lasts from 1:08 PM to 3:07 PM EST. As I said yesterday, I'll create a blog entry around 1 PM EST for open commenting as we watch and wait for what we all hope is a succesful launch.

The launch window does last until February 14; however, I saw in the New York Times this morning that if we don't launch until after January 28, the probe's arrival at Pluto will be delayed by five years, to 2020. (Current plan is for it to arrive in July 2015, because launching in January will allow for a gravity assist from Jupiter.)

Links:

• New Horizons Main Page
  
• Virtual Launch Control Center
  
• NASA TV
  

Tags: science, space

Here we go...

NASA TV is broadcasting live from the Cape. According to the Virtual Launch Center, the Atlas V rocket is fueled and ready to go at 1:08 PM EST. Let's talk!

Links:

• New Horizons Main Page
  
• Virtual Launch Control Center
  
• NASA TV
  

At 2:00 PM EST the New Horizons spacecraft launched successfully from Cape Canaveral. We're still watching the feed from NASA-TV, but everything looks good. The spacecraft will pass the Moon at roughly 11:00 PM tonight, eventually swing by Jupiter for a gravity assist, and in nine years will reach the planet (yes, I said planet) Pluto.

Thanks to everyone who joined me across the Internet as we watched the launch today.

I'll see you all back here in 2015.

Tags: science, space

For those who want to play, glishara's comment here has sparked an idea for a meme.

Where will you be and what will you be up to in 2015 when New Horizons reaches Pluto?

My answer: I hope I'll still be writing science fiction...

(Question edited in response to a comment below.)

Tags: personal, science, space