Crew Dragon – Demo-2.
During the Coronavirus lockdown many of the UK public have been looking up each evening to see Meteors, Satellites, Planets, The International Space Station and more. Many have acquired a new found love of the night sky.
If you have been joining in or even just started looking up, you are in for an amazing treat!
UPDATE
On 27 May 2020 at 21:33 UK time (20:33 GMT) A SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket was set to blast off from Cape Canaveral Florida. Unfortunately, bad weather just before the craft was due to blast off scrubbed the launch.
The launch is now scheduled for Saturday May 30 at 20:22 UK time (19:22 GMT).
The mighty rocket will be carrying two Astronauts to the International Space Station inside a new Crew Dragon Spacecraft. This is the first ever commercial launch of Astronauts into space by a private company, SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-2.
You can watch the launch live below. After lift off, you may be able to see the Crew Dragon spacecraft on its first orbit passing over the United Kingdom. An unmissable and historic sight!
Unlike the earlier scrubbed launch on Wednesday, you won’t see the craft over the UK 15 – 20 minutes later, but you may be able to see it pass over the UK/ Europe around 22:15 UK time the same evening. Please see spotting info further down this page
The launch is planned for 20:22 UK time. This may change, so stay up to date on launch timings with @VirtualAstro on twitter and Facebook. @VirtualAstro will also post up to the minute alerts on spotting the Spacecraft as it passes over the UK and Western Europe.
Watch LIVE
If the above video is experiencing problems, you can view the SpaceX feed here
Watch SpaceX Falcon 9 Carrying Crew Dragon Launch – Then Watch the Spacecraft fly over the UK the same evening!
If all goes to plan, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon on top and the Astronauts inside will launch safely on time.
The Spacecraft is carrying NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken. This will be the first historic commercial flight to the International Space Station since the Space Shuttle was retired. We should therefore see the Crew Dragon Spacecraft flying over the UK the same evening.
As well as flying to the Space Station on board the latest in commercial spacecraft the two astronauts will also be wearing hi-tech SpaceX space suits.
How to See the Crew Dragon Spacecraft as it passes over the UK.
You will only need your eyes and to know when and what direction to look in. Please see the charts below which should help you pinpoint the spacecraft in the sky. The pass will be very low in the sky near the horizon and will be a challenge to spot. It may be too low to be visible in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Northern England.
This will be the only time we will be able to see the spacecraft fly over before docking the following day.
What will we see?
As the Spacecraft passes over the UK we may see just the one or a collection of objects looking like bright stars moving across the sky. The craft should be bright enough to follow once you catch a glimpse of it as it speeds toward the International Space Station for its rendezvous.
Can someone mention who is on the ISS currently?
saw it at between 10:15 -16 pm a lot of people saying it was iss took a video of it at 10:15-17pm
Got it, a gleaming bright white Spacecraft (Dot) silently on its way at 24000km/h! Wow to the endeavour.
Hi, So just to confirm, My App shows the ISS passing over the UK at 22.10 so the the Crew Dragon Spaceship will be about 5 minutes behind it?
Fingers crossed the weather holds for launch and we also get clear skies in the U.K.
Brilliant, best of luck, hope it all goes well
I was so hopefull it came over the coast of the netherlands.
I was really hopefully attended to sit in my backyard. waiting to see it passing over at saturday. but if the pictures says it won’t that would be so painfull into the heart not to see it ;(
Hopefully it will. Because i am very excited about this launch as i am always been.
Because i love everything about space, and what’s going on there. I am really waiting for this to see.. I wish the crew the very best and a safe trip to the international space station.
pascal
It was amazing seeing the astronauts in their seats and the screens in front of them.
How long does it take to reach ISS?
Does their spacecraft stay docked to ISS and how long will they stay there?
I didn’t hear the answers to these questions during the broadcast.
Thanks.
Can you project a flight path for Saturday?
this is going to make me weep. gonna play “great gig in the sky” from pink floyds PULSE tour as it goes over.
I would love to know when launches are so we can watch in the Uk
Can anyone clarify the time please? The original post says “ On 27 May 2020 at 21:33 UK time (20:33 GMT)“
UK time is GMT so that makes no sense to me ?
Is it 21:33 or 20:33? It can’t be both here obviously;)
Goodluck Have a nice trip we will be waving!
Hoping to see in Scotland UK. Good luck.
Fantastic info as always! ????
Don’t know where those question marks came from?! ?????
Fantastic article I will certainly be watching the live broad cast tonight and hoping to get a glimpse of the space rocket flying across the night sky in UK.
looking forward to seeing it over UK, we are not the most astronomically friendly country, so fingers crossed. Not seen comet swan yet through cloudy skies.
Excited!
If I’m in the North West of England (Liverpool) roughly how low in the night sky will it appear? Near the Horizon or almost directly above?
Will it be bright enough to see even with the light pollution of street lamps?
Can south scaninavia see it ?
anyone know when it’s timed to rendezvous with the ISS?
Hopefully clear skies ? tonight then!! Would be wonderful to see!
When is it due to dock with the ISS, and will we see that in the UK ?
wow man i cant believe this
This is an historic moment! I’ve followed the ISS since the beginning & to… hopefully… be able to see an actual Rocket over the UK is Awesome! …it’s also the first from Cape Canaveral since the Shuttles.
Safe journey Bob & Doug xx
Good luck to everyone involved. My family and I will be watching out for you guys from Leicester UK. Safe journey.
I live in northern Germany – on the same latitude as Hull, UK. Will I be able to see it?
What direction will it be in ad live Aberdeenshire Scotland
Which direction should we be looking? Thanks
Safe journey to the astronauts. Thanks for the info .
Thank you so much for all your info always check each day to see what’s going on.
My sister lives in Portugal. We she be able to see this at the same times as UK please?
Keeping my fingers crossed for the Spacex launch tonight. Skies in the UK will be clear for all to witness this amazing event. I hope all goes well and all involved stay safe.
How long does it take to reach the Station: is it minutes or days?
Can we plot the rendezvous & better still is there any chance we may see both in our sky?
Do we have a lockdown chance in hell of seeing it dock in the UK night sky!!?
On 27 May 2020 at 21:33 UK time (20:33 GMT) A SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket will blast off from Cape Canaveral Florida.
It cant be both, which one is it?
Well….that’s me told lol
In Dorset Devon border
Good stuff send me info
Thankyou for all your info, this site has made lockdown somewhat easier, I have seen some amazing things this last month or so.x
Fingers crossed for clear skies!
So looking forward to seeing this. Have been out nearly every evening to watch the starlink satellites and the space station go over. Been some amazing passes because we’ve had some really clear skies.
Brilliant! Thanks for the Info.
John lenard walson will broadcast it live from his telescope
Saw ISS fly over Felixstowe, UK at 10:15 and Crew Dragon just been over. So excited and moved to tears
I saw it at 22.30 ish I think.
I hope to see them soar over my house, as ISS has been doing every evening this last week – just need clear skies! Good luck & a good journey guys!
Where are you based Caroline. I’m in Redditch in the Midlands and have seen it all week obove me.
Good luck God speed your journey
I’m thinking perhaps a few minutes later than 21:45? From what I can see the Crew Dragon is going to be about 26 minutes behind the ISS’ orbit at launch and moving more slowly as it is accelerating from rest? The ISS will be over the UK at 21:24 so we wouldn’t expect the Crew Dragon until 21:50 at the earliest, and perhaps more like 22:00?
But the ISS is travelling at about 17,000 MPH and the dragon will be accelerating to over 25,000 MPH to escape earth’s gravity and it will be much lower than the ISS
It won’t fly directly to the ISS it will establish a stable orbit before attempting the rendezvous .
The Crew Dragon will do several orbits before docking sometime tomorrow morning. It won’t be going straight to the ISS.
Where in the UK are you, please?
I’m Essex so what time do you suggest I venture outside?
It’s going to do a couple of orbits before docking, so the trajectory of the ISS at launch time is not relevant (other than timing it right for the docking much later)
Martin Cook.Thankyou for the infomation. Can’t wait to look up to the sky tonight. Not missed seeing the Space Station. Wonderful last night especially clear and bright.
How low in degrees is ‘lower in the sky’ ? My trees may be in the way!
Andy
Distance from Kennedy to Penzance 4100 miles, roughly 9 minutes to accelerate to 17500mph, covering approximately 1100 miles in that time, and at that speed it will cover the rest in a further 10 minutes. Which means it should be visible up in the sky from the Penzance in the far west UK from about 17/18 minutes after launch. Sky Horizon versus overhead. Science, innit 🙂
Cant wait have been very fortunate to watch ISS on a few occasions this week
Shut up Martin
Just passed over my house in Midhurst West Sussex at 2215 hrs..20-05-2020, absolutely amazing and watched it through binoculars going very fast…
Why don’t you read the article? It’s says around 22:15 UK time
hiya – it’s not docking on the first pass
The space craft flew over at 10.15pm last night just like they stated. Amazing.