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UK Space Agency announces Space for Everyone tour across the UK this summer

This summer, an out-of-this-world experience is set to tour 10 locations across the UK, exciting the next generation about career possibilities within the growing space sector.

The UK Space Agency’s Space for Everyone tour will showcase the role of space in improving life on Earth and highlight the diverse and varied career paths open to young people looking to enter this fast-growing industry - demonstrating how space works for them, and how they can work for space.

The tour will feature a 72 feet replica rocket for young people to learn more about how the UK is launching into space, and also include hands-on experiences to engage and fire up the imagination. Trained hosts and industry experts will be on hand to share more about the role of satellites and the varied careers available in the UK space sector.

British astronaut Tim Peake said:

The Space for Everyone tour will demonstrate the incredible capacity of space to inspire. It took thousands of people to make my mission to the International Space Station possible and there is a huge variety of careers on offer in space right here in the UK. I hope this activity sparks an interest in the future generations who will take our space sector to new heights.

The Space for Everyone tour will visit:

Southampton - West Bargate: 1-5 June

Swansea - Dylan Thomas Square: 22-26 June

Leicester - National Space Centre: 29 June - 3 July

Bradford - Centenary Square: 6-10 July

Belfast - Cathedral Gardens: 20-24 July

Aberdeen - Queens Links: 3-7 August

Newcastle - Times Square: 10-14 August

Hull - Queen Victoria Square: 17-21 August

Great Yarmouth - Sea Life Gardens: 24-28 August

Hastings - Hastings Pier: 31 August - 4 September

Ian Annett, Deputy CEO at the UK Space Agency, said:

Our Space For Everyone tour is an exciting opportunity for our next generation to see first-hand what it is really like to work in the space sector and to learn about careers in this growing and exciting industry. The space sector requires various skills – many not traditionally associated with it – and champions inclusivity and the need for innovation. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist, as there are a host of skills and talents needed to bring space closer to our daily lives and improve our understanding of this critical part of the environment for the benefit of the planet and its people.

Aside from inspiring the next generation, this tour is about highlighting the opportunities within the space industry for people of all backgrounds; championing inclusivity and the need for innovation. The roadshow is free and open to all ages, and the hope is that it will ignite a passion for science, technology, engineering, and maths in everyone who attends.

Find out more about the Space for Everyone: Rocket Roadshow on the website or follow UK Space Agency on social media.

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UK Space Agency to bring tour to Swansea

The UK Space Agency is to dock its 72ft model rocket in Swansea from June 22-26.

It'll appear on Museum Park outside the National Waterfront Museum as part of the agency's free-entry Space for Everyone tour. The initiative aims to captivate the next generation, showcasing the UK's space industry and career opportunities. The Swansea event will be attended by space businesses, including Space Wales and Cardiff-based Space Forge, and other organisations focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) topics.

Visitors, including children, families and teachers, will learn how space technologies benefit our daily lives. UK Space Agency deputy CEO Ian Annett said: "Our tour is an exciting opportunity for visitors to see first-hand what it's like to work in the space sector." The tour promises an immersive experience, with state-of-the-art virtual reality headsets to offer insights into what a launch from the UK looks like. Interactive areas will explain the role of satellites and career paths in the UK space industry. British astronaut Tim Peake said: "The Space for Everyone tour will demonstrate the incredible capacity of space to inspire." Swansea Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: "The tour's Swansea visit will be hugely popular and will help reaffirm this city as a place to enjoy great attractions and events." No booking required to visit the tour and, while the event is primarily aimed at those aged nine-18, it's suitable for all ages. More: https://spaceperson.co.uk/rocket-tour/

Social media: @spacegovuk Photo: The Space for Everyone tour - in Swansea from June 22-26

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Watch live: China launching Chang'e 6 mission to far side of the moon early May 3 (video)

Liftoff is expected to occur between 5:17 a.m. and 6:18 a.m. ET on Friday (May 3).

China is set to launch its next robotic moon mission on Friday (May 3), and you can watch the action live.

A Long March 5 rocket carrying the Chang'e 6 lunar far side sample return mission is scheduled to launch between 5:17 a.m. EDT (0917 GMT) and 6:18 a.m. EDT (1018 GMT) on Friday. The mission will take off from China's Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on the tropical island province of Hainan, off the southeastern coast of mainland China.

You can watch the action live here when the time comes, courtesy of CCTV+. The live webcast will begin at 4:30 a.m. ET (0830 GMT) on May 3. 

Related: China to launch sample-return mission to the moon's far side on May 3

Chang'e 6 will involve four different pieces of hardware during its 53-day mission: a lunar orbiter, a moon lander, an ascender spacecraft and a reentry module. First, the lunar orbiter will reach and enter lunar orbit. From there, it will send down the lander and ascender.

The robotic lander will aim for a large impact crater on the far side of the moon known as Apollo basin, where it will attempt to collect up to 4.4 pounds (2 kilograms) of lunar material.

After the samples are collected, they will be transferred to the ascent vehicle, which will then launch them back up to the orbiter. After the samples dock with the orbiter, the spacecraft will then begin its journey back toward Earth.

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Finally, the orbiter will release the samples toward Earth inside the reentry module. If successfully returned and collected, the samples will provide Earth's first glimpse at pristine moon material from the lunar far side and will help answer questions about both the early impact history of the  solar system  and the geological evolution of the moon.

 —  China to launch 1st-ever sample return mission to moon's far side in 2024

 — Are we prepared for Chinese preeminence on the moon and Mars? (op-ed)

— China unveils video of its moon base plans, which weirdly includes a NASA space shuttle

Chinese space agency leadership is already praising the level of complexity in the mission. 

"Chang'e 6 aims to achieve breakthroughs in the design and control technology of the moon's retrograde orbit, intelligent sampling, takeoff and ascent technologies, and automatic sample-return on the far side of the moon," Ge Ping, deputy director of the Center of Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering for the China National Space Administration, told China Central Television (CCTV).

To aid the Chang'e 6 mission, China launched the Queqiao-2 satellite in March 2024 to serve as a communications relay for the spacecraft visiting the lunar far side. Along for the ride were two other experimental satellites that will serve as communication and navigation relays for future lunar endeavors. The two have already beamed haunting lunar imagery back to Earth.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Brett is curious about emerging aerospace technologies, alternative launch concepts, military space developments and uncrewed aircraft systems. Brett's work has appeared on Scientific American, The War Zone, Popular Science, the History Channel, Science Discovery and more. Brett has English degrees from Clemson University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In his free time, Brett enjoys skywatching throughout the dark skies of the Appalachian mountains.

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First Ariane 6 rocket ready to assemble as Europe begins final countdown

Core and boosters are on the pad ahead of june launch.

The European Space Agency is ready to put together the first Ariane 6 rocket, and has declared the campaign to get it into orbit is under way.

A Friday post from the agency revealed that the central core and boosters of the first Ariane 6 are now on the launchpad at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

The core made the journey to the launch pad on April 24 atop the four automated guided vehicles that the ESA uses to move rockets to their last Earthly resting place. The vehicles trundle along at 3km/h, making for a gentle 16-minute journey across the 800 meters between the launcher assembly building and the pad.

The boosters were shipped on 25 and 26 April, aboard a truck specially designed to carry them.

In the next few days the ESA will raise the central core to move the boosters a few centimeters. Once that's done, the core will then be supported by the boosters. Rocket scientists and engineers will then make the necessary mechanical and electrical connections to get Ariane 6 ready to fly.

An Ariane 6 booster being transported to the launch pad. Image credit ESA/ArianeGroup/Arianespace/CNES – Click to enlarge

At this point, readers may have noticed that we have not mentioned payload! That will be added a few weeks before launch, when the upper part that includes the payloads and the fairing are installed.

The ESA reckons this is a novel and efficient way of getting things done. "One of the innovations in the Ariane 6 launcher assembly process is installing the upper part on the launch pad, aiming to increase efficiency, shorten assembly cycles and shorten the launch campaigns," the Agency's announcement enthuses.

It's also one of the key reasons the ESA developed the Ariane 6 – its designed to increase launch frequency compared to its predecessor the Ariane 5. The new booster can also carry a little more than the model 5 and has engines that can be restarted – a feature that allows it to perform more complex missions.

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For now, the ESA just wants the Ariane 6 to fly. The last model 5 has already left the launchpad, meaning Europe lacks a heavy launch capability.

That wasn't in the ESA’s plans when it funded the rocket in 2016 and penciled in a first flight for 2020 – a schedule that would have seen the Ariane 5 and 6 programs overlap.

Ariane 6's orbital debut is now scheduled for between mid-June and mid-July. Even if that launch goes off without a hitch, another big test awaits as the maiden Ariane 6 will use just two boosters – the rocket is also capable of flying with four.

In that configuration Ariane 6 can reach geostationary, geosynchronous, sun-synchronous, or trans-lunar injection orbits. Or it can haul over 21,000kg to low earth orbit – the destination for most payloads. ®

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Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA rocket launch schedule in Florida

Follow florida today's space team for news and updates at floridatoday.com/space.

Florida's Space Coast is the home of NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, where a record-breaking 72 orbital launches took flight last year.

But with 32 rockets lifting off by the end of April, this year's speedier cadence projects out to a new annual record of 96 launches. Will that pace hold through the rest of 2024? Stay tuned.

SpaceX accounted for 30 of those first 32 launches of the year. United Launch Alliance launched the other two rockets:  the first Vulcan on its Jan. 8 certification mission  and  the last Delta IV Heavy on April 9 on the NROL-70 mission .

Following are the latest missions coming up from Cape Canaveral. All launches are listed in Eastern Daylight Time. Be aware: Dates and times are routinely subject to change for a variety of reasons.

For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at [email protected]. For more space news, visit floridatoday.com/space .

Sunday, May 12: SpaceX Starlink

A National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency navigational warning includes a SpaceX Starlink mission window that will open Sunday night:

• Mission:  A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a batch of Starlink internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
• Launch window: 8:11 p.m. to 12:42 a.m. Monday
• Location:  Launch Complex 40.
• Trajectory:  Southeast.
• Local sonic boom: No.
• Booster landing:  Drone ship out on the Atlantic Ocean.
• Live coverage:  Starts 90 minutes before liftoff at  floridatoday.com/space .

No earlier than Friday, May 17: NASA’s Boeing Starliner crewed flight test

• Mission:   NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will fly aboard a Boeing Starliner spacecraft and a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket to the International Space Station.
• Launch: TBA (postponed after a Monday scrub).
• Location: Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
• Trajectory: Northeast.
• Live coverage:  Starts at 4:30 p.m. at  floridatoday.com/space .

Tuesday, June 25: SpaceX Falcon Heavy GOES-U

• Mission:  NOAA’s last GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites) spacecraft, which will monitor weather and environmental phenomena, will launch atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
• Launch: TBA.
• Location: Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

Thursday, Oct. 10: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Europa Clipper

• Mission: NASA's Europa Clipper is a solar-powered spacecraft designed to conduct the first detailed investigations of Jupiter's icy moon Europa.
• Live coverage:  Starts two hours before liftoff at  floridatoday.com/space .

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NASA, Boeing, and ULA (United Launch Alliance) are targeting no earlier than Friday, May 17, for launch of the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test after a scrub Monday.

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NASA wants to build a new rocket that could get to Mars in just 2 months

The space agency is investing in the development of a propulsion system that uses nuclear power to create plasma bursts.

The future of space travel depends on our ability to reach celestial pit stops faster and more efficiently. As such, NASA is working with a technology development company on a new propulsion system that could drop off humans on Mars in a relatively speedy two months’ time rather than the current nine month journey required to reach the Red Planet.

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NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program recently selected six promising projects for additional funding and development, allowing them to graduate to the second stage of development. The new “science fiction-like concepts,” as described by John Nelson, NIAC program executive at NASA, include a lunar railway system and fluid-based telescopes, as well as a pulsed plasma rocket.

The potentially groundbreaking propulsion system is being developed by Arizona-based Howe Industries. To reach high velocities within a shorter period of time, the pulsed plasma rocket would use nuclear fission—the release of energy from atoms splitting apart—to generate packets of plasma for thrust.

It would essentially produce a controlled jet of plasma to help propel the rocket through space. Using the new propulsion system, and in terms of thrust, the rocket could potentially generate up to 22,481 pounds of force (100,000 Newtons) with a specific impulse (Isp) of 5,000 seconds, for remarkably high fuel efficiency.

It’s not an entirely new concept. NASA began developing its own version back in 2018 under the name Pulsed Fission-Fusion (PuFF). PuFF relied on a device commonly used to compress laboratory plasmas to high pressures for very short timescales, called z-Pinch, to produce thrust. The pulsed plasma rocket, however, is smaller, simpler, and more affordable, according to NASA .

The space agency claims that the propulsion system’s high efficiency could allow for crewed missions to Mars to be completed within two months. As it stands today with commonly used propulsion systems, a trip to Mars takes around nine months. The less time humans can spend traveling through space, the better. Shorter periods of exposure to space radiation and microgravity could help mitigate its effects on the human body.

The pulsed plasma rocket would also be capable of carrying much heavier spacecraft, which can be then equipped with shielding against galactic cosmic rays for the crew on board.

Phase 2 of NIAC is focused on assessing the neutronics of the system (how the motion of the spacecraft interacts with the plasma), designing the spacecraft, power system, and necessary subsystems, analyzing the magnetic nozzle capabilities, and determining trajectories and benefits of the pulsed plasma rocket, according to NASA.

The new propulsion system has the potential to revolutionize crewed spaceflight, helping humans make it to Mars without the toil of the trip itself.

A version of this article originally appeared on Gizmoodo .

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Boeing’s Starliner Preparing First Human Launch Tonight In Race Against Musk’s SpaceX — How To Watch

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Boeing’s Starliner is set to carry astronauts into space for the first time on Monday, a major milestone for the aerospace giant after years of trouble and setbacks as it tries to catch up with Elon Musk’s SpaceX amid NASA’s efforts to nurture commercial partners and grow the budding space economy.

The ULA Atlas V rocket carrying Boeing's Starliner spacecraft at Space Launch Complex 41.

Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is scheduled to blast off atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 10:34 p.m. EDT Monday.

The launch will carry two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, to and from the International Space Station for a roughly weeklong trip designed to test Boeing’s spacecraft and certify it for regular missions to the orbital lab.

It will mark the first crewed flights for both Boeing’s Starliner and ULA’s rocket.

NASA will air a live stream of the launch starting at 6:30 p.m., while Boeing will also stream the launch on its website.

It’s also possible to watch the launch in person in Florida, Boeing said, publishing a map of nearby areas where watchers should be able to get a good view, including Cocoa Beach Pier, Kings Park, Kelly Park, Port Canaveral and parks near the Max Brewer Bridge.

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Further Viewing

What to watch for.

Starliner will dock to the forward-facing port of the ISS’s Harmony module at 12:48 a.m., EDT, on Wednesday, NASA said. The agency said it will provide continuous coverage leading up to the docking, including through hatch opening and welcome remarks, expected at 2:35 a.m. and 3:15 a.m., respectively.

Key Background

Boeing has a lot riding on this launch. A series of high profile failures and blunders of Boeing aircraft, notably the 737 Max and including several fatal crashes, has put the company under intense scrutiny over the safety and design of its vehicles. The Starliner project, part of a NASA effort to offload ISS launch services to the private sector, has also suffered years of setbacks , including failed test flights , a litany of technical issues and more than a $1 billion in cost overruns . Boeing is well behind its chief competitor, Musk’s SpaceX, which has already taxied numerous crews to the orbital station and has been launching NASA astronauts for years. NASA has said it expects to retire the ISS in 2030, a timeline Bloomberg said means Boeing will only fly six more missions to the station for NASA, at most.

Further Reading

Boeing Starliner Space Capsule Faces a Shaky Commercial Future (Bloomberg)

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Happy Space Day! Contest will offer kids a chance to visit Blue Origin’s rocket factory

T he first Friday in May is National Space Day , which makes today a fitting time to announce a contest that will give eight students an opportunity to tour Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket factory in Florida.

The National SpaceKids Press Squad Competition is being organized by SpaceKids Global , a Florida-based nonprofit organization dedicated to getting elementary-school students interested in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics, also known as STEAM.

Entries are limited to students aged from 8 to 12, and must be submitted via SpaceKids Global’s Press Squad webpage by June 14. Twenty-four students will be randomly selected as semifinalists. Those students will be asked to submit 60-second videos explaining why they want to see a rocket launch. Judges will then choose the eight winners — who will include a member of an active-duty military family, a member of a first-responder family, a member of a Boys & Girls Club, and five other students chosen to reflect geographical diversity.

The winners (and an accompanying parent or guardian for each student) will be brought to Florida for a tour of Blue Origin’s Rocket Park manufacturing facility, a visit to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and press training by a professional news reporter.

The SpaceKids Press Squad will get a chance to interview employees at the Blue Origin factory. And if the timing is right, they’ll be able to watch a live webcast of a Blue Origin New Shepard rocket launch in Texas and interview spacefliers remotely. Check out the Press Squad webpage for details.

SpaceKIds Global’s founder, Sharon Hagle, took a suborbital space trip on New Shepard in March 2022. The Press Squad contest is being done in collaboration with the Club for the Future , Blue Origin’s nonprofit educational foundation.

“Our mission at SpaceKids is to reach children at a young age and get them excited about all of the careers available in the space industry,” Hagle said today in a news release. “We are bringing the possibility of space to kids everywhere with opportunities like the SpaceKids Press Squad. My flight to space alongside my husband, Marc, was life-changing, and we can’t wait for these eight lucky kids to experience an out-of-this-world adventure, too! We hope to inspire a new generation of space explorers and future leaders to pursue STEAM careers.”

There are other ways to celebrate space odysseys in the Seattle area this weekend:

• The city of Kent, Wash. — where Blue Origin is headquartered — is partnering with the Kent Community Foundation and the Kent School District to present an outdoor movie night on Friday and a “Space for All” STEM festival on Saturday . Friday’s space-themed movie, “A Million Miles Away,” will be shown at 7:30 p.m. at Kent’s Kherson Park. Saturday’s festival starts at 11 a.m. at the Accesso Showare Center. Jose Hernandez, the NASA astronaut whose life story inspired “A Million Miles Away,” will do a keynote presentation at 2 p.m. Register online for free tickets to the festival .
• Seattle’s Museum of Flight is celebrating Star Wars Day on Saturday (May the Fourth). The day’s offerings include lightsaber shows and training by the Saber Guild , music by the 8-Bit Brass Band , a presentation by Star Wars artist Kevin Graham , exhibits of Star Wars collectibles and appearances by roaming Star Wars cosplayers . Check out the museum’s website for details.

Boeing Calls off Its First Astronaut Launch Because of Valve Issue on Rocket

Boeing has called off its first astronaut launch because of a fluttering rocket valve

Terry Renna

Boeing's Starliner capsule atop an Atlas V rocket is seen at Space Launch Complex 41 after the launch attempt was scrubbed at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, late Monday, May 6, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Boeing called off its first astronaut launch because of a valve problem on the rocket Monday night.

The two NASA test pilots had just strapped into Boeing’s Starliner capsule for a flight to the International Space Station when the countdown was halted, just two hours before the planned liftoff.

United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno said an oxygen pressure-relief valve on the upper stage of the company's Atlas rocket started fluttering open and close, creating a loud buzz.

The valve may have exceeded its 200,000 lifetime cycles, Bruno said, which means it would have to be replaced, pushing the launch into next week. But if engineers can determine the valve is still within that limit, the launch team could try again as soon as Friday.

It was the latest delay for Boeing's first crew flight, on hold for years because of capsule trouble.

Bruno said similar valve trouble had occurred in years past on a few other Atlas rockets launching satellites. It was quickly resolved by turning the troublesome valves off and back on. But the company has stricter flight rules for astronaut flights, prohibiting valve recycling when a crew is on board.

Photos You Should See - April 2024

“And so we stayed with the rules and the procedures, and scrubbed as a result," Bruno said at a press conference.

NASA's commercial crew program manager Steve Stich acknowledged it was a tough call.

“We’re taking it one step at a time, and we’re going to launch when we’re ready and fly when it’s safe to do so," Stich told reporters.

Within minutes of the countdown halting, Boeing's new astrovan was back at the launch pad to retrieve Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams from their pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Starliner’s first test flight without a crew in 2019 failed to reach the space station and Boeing had to repeat the flight. Then the company encountered parachute issues and flammable tape.

NASA hired Boeing and SpaceX a decade ago to ferry astronauts to and from the space station after the shuttle program ended, paying the private companies billions of dollars. SpaceX has been in the orbital taxi business since 2020.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Copyright 2024 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Blog UK Space Agency blog

https://space.blog.gov.uk/2023/09/19/uk-space-agency-to-bring-its-space-for-everyone-steam-tour-to-glasgow/

UK Space Agency to bring its 'Space for Everyone' STEAM tour to Glasgow

This exciting initiative aims to captivate and educate the next generation, showcasing the UK's flourishing space industry. Scottish based businesses, including Orbex, Skyrora and Spelfie will be attending to showcase the diverse array of career opportunities available.

The ‘Space for Everyone’ tour will serve as a beacon of inspiration, shedding light on the pivotal role that space plays in enhancing life on Earth. Visitors, including children, families and teachers will have the unique opportunity to witness first-hand how space technologies benefit our daily lives and gain insights into the continuous efforts to explore the great unknown.

Matt Archer, Director of Launch at the UK Space Agency, said:

“We’re delighted to bring our Space for Everyone tour to Glasgow so young people and their families can learn not just about space, but also about the vibrant space sector and the exciting career opportunities available in the field. “ The space sector is diverse and requires people from all backgrounds and with a variety of skills – many not traditionally associated with it. The tour proves you don’t have to be a rocket scientist, or even an astronaut, as there are a host of talents needed to bring space closer to our daily lives and improve our understanding of this critical part of the environment for the benefit of the planet and its people.

Admission to the tour is free, no booking required, and while the event is primarily targeted towards children aged 9 to 18, it is guaranteed to ignite a passion for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) in individuals of all ages. Mums, dads, grandparents and next-door neighbours are all invited to participate and experience the excitement of the Space for Everyone tour. 

The tour has been travelling the UK since it kicked off in Southampton in June and will visit Plymouth later this month. For further information about the Space for Everyone tour, please visit spaceperson.co.uk/rocket-tour  or follow @spacegovuk on social media.

The Space for Everyone tour will visit:

• Glasgow – George Square: 21-25 September 
• Plymouth – Piazza: 28 September – 2 October

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Starliner launch with NASA astronauts from Cape Canaveral: How to stream coverage on iPhone, TV

Boeing starliner rocket launch from cape canaveral, florida, will send 2 nasa astronauts to the international space station..

Editor's note: Starliner launch was scrubbed Monday, May 6, with a new attempt scheduled for no earlier than 6:16 p.m. EDT Friday, May 17, 2024. Here is FLORIDA TODAY's story about the next launch attempt .

Original story posted Monday, May 6:

Starliner, we are ready for you.

As Boeing prepares to launch its  Starliner capsule on its first crewed mission from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station , NASA's social media channels are preparing for viewers who can't see the historic launch in person. The next attempt is no earlier than 6:16 p.m. EDT Friday, May 17. FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team, which consists of award-winning reporter Rick Neale , reporter Brooke Edwards and veteran visuals journalist Craig Bailey , has its own coverage plans complete with a live blog, tweets, video and photos from Cape Canaveral, near Kennedy Space Center and across Brevard County.

Who's the Starliner crew? On board the rocket will be two NASA astronauts :  Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams , both Navy test pilots. They have each flown in space twice.

Dubbed NASA's Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test Launch for livestreams online, coverage started at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 6. A NASA livestream for the next attempt has not been scheduled as of Tuesday, May 7. Below is information on the long-anticipated Starliner rocket launch and how to watch our Space Team's coverage on various platforms, from your Android or iPhone to your big screen in your living room.

What is Boeing's Starliner?

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will transport NASA astronauts. The company calls it the  Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 Starliner, or simply “Starliner ." Set to launch no earlier than May 17, 2024, it will make history as the first spacecraft to ferry humans from Space Launch Complex 41 in Cape Canaveral. The launch pad has been the site for historic missions beginning with the Titan rockets in 1965 and including the New Horizons deep space probe, the Voyager spacecraft, and even the Curiosity Mars rover.

Starliner will be launched with the help of a United Launch Alliance (a partnership between Boeing and Lockheed Martin) Atlas V rocket. The Atlas V rocket has launched from the site since 2002, but this will be the first time it carries astronauts to space.

Who are the NASA astronauts flying into space for Starliner launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida?

The two NASA astronauts flying this commercial crew mission are  Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams . Both are Navy test pilots. They have each flown in space twice and both bring a wide variety of experiences to the flight.

Williams was originally a helicopter test pilot before switching to flying jets. She's preparing to fly to space for the third time, as the crew test flight pilot.

This will be Wilmore's third spaceflight as well. Before becoming a NASA astronaut, Wilmore was a U.S. Navy captain, fighter pilot, and test pilot, accumulating more than 8,000 hours of flight time. Wilmore flew the FA-18 Hornet and T-45 Goshawk, playing a role in missions during Operation Desert Storm, Desert Shield and Southern Watch.

No earlier than Friday, May 17: NASA’s Boeing Starliner crewed flight test

• Mission:   NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will fly aboard a Boeing Starliner spacecraft  and a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket to the International Space Station.
• Launch:  No earlier than 6:16 p.m. EDT Friday, May 17, 2024. Previously, it was 10:34 p.m. EDT Monday, May 6, 2024.
• Location:  Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
• Live coverage:  Started at 6:30 p.m. EDT Monday, May 6, at  floridatoday.com/space . Dubbed NASA's Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test Launch for livestreams online, a new NASA livestream for the next attempt has not been scheduled as of Tuesday, May 7.

How to watch Starliner rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, online

Tune in to  floridatoday.com/space  for  USA TODAY Network's Space Team  live coverage and updates on the Boeing Starliner rocket launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, starting at 6:30 p.m. EDT Monday. You can download the free app for iPhone or Android or type  floridatoday.com/space  into your browser.

In Florida, we can best see this historic moment in person if you're anywhere on the Space Coast (Brevard County ) or certain spots in the First Coast or Fun Coast (Volusia County ) or the Treasure Coast (Indian River County, St. Lucie County and Martin County ). Pro tip: If you do watch it in person, get to your viewing destination early and prepare to stay later after the launch because of heavy traffic.

How to watch Boeing Starliner rocket launch from your phone, iPad or tablet with FLORIDA TODAY Space Team coverage

When and where: Dubbed NASA's Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test Launch for livestreams online, coverage started at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 6. A NASA livestream for the next attempt has not been scheduled as of Tuesday, May 7.

When the launch attempt is scheduled, full coverage of the Starliner launch includes a live webcast with live tweets and updates at floridatoday.com/space (you can type this on your browser on your phone) and will feature in-depth coverage. Ask our FLORIDA TODAY space team reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards questions and strike up a conversation. You also can watch coverage via the FLORIDA TODAY app , which is available in the App Store or Google Play . FLORIDA TODAY is part of the USA TODAY Network.

• Click here to download FLORIDA TODAY app on App Store
• Click here to download FLORIDA TODAY app on Google Play

How to watch NASA's Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test launch on TV, how to watch Starliner launch from Florida on YouTube

If you have streaming services on your flatscreen, computer, tablet or phone, you can watch NASA's Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test Launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida. This will require the FLORIDA TODAY app (see above) and the option to "mirror" from your phone to the TV, or the YouTube app to watch the NASA live broadcast (which is above).

Dubbed NASA's Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test Launch for livestreams online, coverage started at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 6. A NASA livestream for the next attempt has not been scheduled as of Tuesday, May 7. When it is available, from your TV apps, select the YouTube app, search for NASA's channel and click on the NASA's Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test Launch live broadcast.

How to watch NASA Starliner launch on Twitter (and whom to follow!)

NASA will have a broadcast on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, on its account: @NASA .

Follow along with FLORIDA TODAY experts on Twitter: Space Team at @SpaceTeam , Rick Neale at @rickneale1 , Brooke Edwards at @brookeofstars with amazing visuals from Craig Bailey at @cbphoto1 . We'll link back to our live coverage at @Florida_Today and at floridatoday.com .

How to watch NASA Starliner rocket launch live on Facebook

NASA has posted a Facebook Watch live event and will broadcast the Starliner rocket launch livestream on its Facebook page at facebook.com/nasa .

How to watch NASA Starliner rocket launch from Roku, Amazon Fire

For viewers who have a Roku box or Amazon Fire TV Stick, select the YouTube app, search for NASA's channel and click on the NASA's Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test Launch live broadcast when it's available.

Can you watch Starliner rocket launch from Florida on TikTok?

NASA has a voice on many social media platforms, however, NASA is not on TikTok , the popular video-sharing social media platform. There is no NASA Starliner rocket launch broadcast scheduled from TikTok. However, there will likely be TikTok videos about the launch − from the Space Coast of Florida and beyond as this is a historic event.

Can you watch NASA Starliner rocket launch on Instagram?

NASA does have an official Instagram account ( @NASA ), as does United Launch Alliance ( @ulalaunch ), but there is no announcement online if the space agency will host an Instagram livestream. Likely, NASA and possibly ULA will post Instagram Reels and an Instagram Story (or two) about the Boeing Starliner rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

FLORIDA TODAY will have coverage of Starliner launch on Instagram via @Florida_Today and veteran award-winning photojournalist Craig Bailey at @crbphoto1 .

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on  Twitter  or Instagram at  @byjensangalang . Support local journalism.  Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper .

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Israel-Gaza latest: US will not supply Israel with bombs to invade Rafah, Joe Biden warns

Joe Biden has said he will not supply weapons if Israel launches a full-scale offensive in Rafah, a day after it emerged the US had paused a shipment of bombs to Israel. Listen to our Daily podcast on why a ceasefire hasn't happened while you scroll.

Thursday 9 May 2024 10:28, UK

• Israel-Hamas war
• Biden: US will not supply weapons if Israel invades Rafah
• Alistair Bunkall analysis: Biden's reputation is on the line if Netanyahu defies him
• Listen to the Daily above and tap here to follow wherever you get your podcasts
• Live reporting by Bhvishya Patel

People have searching through the rubble after an Israeli strike on homes in Rafah. 

Earlier this morning, Agence France-Presse reported heavy shelling in the southern region and Palestinian news agency  Wafa  reported eight people had been killed after an aircraft bombed a house.

Israel says the southern Gaza city is the last Hamas stronghold in the enclave and has threatened a full-scale invasion despite warnings from allies.

More than one million Palestinian civilians have sought shelter in the region, many previously displaced from other parts of Gaza after Israel's orders to evacuate from there.

A vessel carrying aid to a pier built by the US off Gaza has set sail from Cyprus.

The US-flagged Sagamore left the port of Larnaca this morning and officials say the vessel will be used to offload supplies on to a floating pier built to expedite aid into the besieged enclave.

For context : Cyprus opened a sea corridor in March to ship aid directly to Gaza, where deliveries via land have been severely disrupted by border closures and Israel's military operations.

The US-based charity World Food Kitchen used the route twice before seven of its workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike on 1 April.

Donald Trump has accused Joe Biden of being "too weak to demand law and order" after Columbia University cancelled its main graduation after weeks of protests on campus over the Israel-Hamas war.

The Ivy League school has said it is not going ahead with its ceremony this month due to "security concerns that unfortunately proved insurmountable".

Graduation had been scheduled for 15 May.

Responding to the latest announcement, the former US leader said on his social media platform Truth Social that "crooked Joe Biden is 100% responsible" for colleges cancelling graduations.

"Crooked Joe is taking the side of these terrorists," he added.

Joe Biden's "reputation is on the line" if Benjamin Netanyahu decides to ignore him, our Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall says.

He says he suspects the Israelis knew about the US leader's decision not to supply Israel with weapons for its assault on Rafah before it was made public.

"I'm sure this would have been communicated to the Israelis behind the scenes," he says.

But by making it public, the US is "setting a very clear red line".

"Therefore, Mr Biden's reputation is on the line if Benjamin Netanyahu decides to ignore him and go into Rafah regardless," he says.

"At that point Biden will have a decision to make - does he soften and side with his ally or does he stand firm to the red line he has now set?"

Mr Netanyahu may be thinking the US has set clear red lines in the past that have been ignored by leaders.

"I'm thinking the use of chemical weapons in Syria and then with Vladimir Putin and the invasion of Ukraine," Bunkall says.

"When those respective leaders have decided to ignore the US, the US has done nothing about it so perhaps Mr Netanyahu may feel this is an empty threat."

Some reaction from the far-right of Israeli politics to the news that Joe Biden will halt offensive weapons sales to Israel should Benjamin Netanyahu go ahead with a full invasion of Rafah.

The outspoken national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, shared this post on X...

Israel has begun what it described as "targeted" operations in eastern parts of the city.

Aid organisations and the UN have warned of the humanitarian catastrophe that will accompany any further action in Rafah. 

The Hamas-run health ministry says at least 34,904 Palestinians have now been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since 7 October.

A further 78,514 have been injured, it added. 

It should be noted the figures reported by the ministry do not differentiate between fighters and civilians.

Reporters from Agence France-Presse are reporting heavy shelling in Rafah this morning.

And the Palestinian news agency Wafa reports that eight people have been killed, including three children, in the southern Gaza city today after an aircraft bombed a house.

It has also said that "dozens of Palestinians", the majority of whom were children and women, were killed in a series of attacks launched by Israel in Gaza.

Medical sources say they were "killed as a result of the occupation warplanes bombing homes in the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood", east of Gaza City.

America will not supply Israel with weapons for its assault on Rafah, the US president told CNN last night.

Joe Biden said he would continue to send defensive weaponry - such as ammunition for the Iron Dome systems - but weapons required for an assault of a large city would no longer be sent. 

Watch a clip from that interview below...

The Israel Defence Forces has launched a new operation in central Gaza, it has announced.

The 99th division of the IDF "began an operation in the area of Zeitoun in the central Gaza Strip in order to continue the dismantling of terrorist infrastructure and elimination of terrorist operatives in the area", a statement read. 

"The operation began with a series of intelligence-based aerial strikes on approximately 25 terror targets, including military structures, terror tunnels, observation posts, sniper posts, and additional terror infrastructure."

It also said that "IDF ground troops are currently operating to secure the area of Zeitoun".

It's unclear how large an operation has been launched at this stage.

Zeitoun is southwest of Jabalia, near the al Shifa hospital. 

The Houthi group claims it has attacked three ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.

The group's military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, said the Houthis attacked the MSC DEGO and the MSC GINA in the Gulf of Aden using ballistic missiles and drones.

Sarea said the group also targeted the MSC VITTORIA in the Indian Ocean and then again in the Gulf of Aden. 

It did not offer a timeline on when it attacked the ships, but MSC DEGO and the MSC GINA reported explosions on Tuesday, with the crews and vessels of each recorded as safe. 

An attack on the MSC VITTORIA has not been reported by any maritime authority. 

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