Polaris Program rocket launch live: When is it, how to watch

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - SpaceX has again delayed launching a Falcon 9, which is expected to carry the Polaris Dawn mission to low-Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Initially planned for early Tuesday morning, the launch was pushed a day later to Wednesday so that teams could assess a "ground-side helium leak on the Quick Disconnect umbilical," SpaceX said.

A four-hour launch window was to have opened at 3:38 a.m. ET on Aug. 28, with two additional launch opportunities at 5:23 a.m. ET and 7:09 a.m. ET. SpaceX said the mission was delayed again due to an unfavorable weather forecast in Dragon’s splashdown areas off the coast of Florida. This weather also impacted a backup launch opportunity for Thursday, Aug. 29.

"Our launch criteria are heavily constrained by forecasted splashdown weather conditions," wrote mission commander Jared Isaacman in a post on X. "With no ISS rendezvous and limited life support consumables, we must be absolutely sure of reentry weather before launching. As of now, conditions are not favorable tonight or tomorrow, so we’ll assess day by day."

With no firm launch date, Isaacman said they would wait for the best opportunity to ensure success.

"Sometimes, the hardest journeys require the most patience, and we’re ready to wait for the right moment. We know many have traveled to see the launch, and we’re grateful for your support," he added.

FOX 35 will stream the launch live on Good Day Orlando, FOX Local, our news app, and in the above video player when it begins.

What is the mission?

"This Dragon mission will take advantage of Falcon 9 and Dragon’s maximum performance, flying higher than any Dragon mission to date and endeavoring to reach the highest Earth orbit ever flown," Polaris Dawn said. "Orbiting through portions of the Van Allen radiation belt, Polaris Dawn will conduct research with the aim of better understanding the effects of spaceflight and space radiation on human health."

BOCA CHICA, TX - FEBRUARY 11: The Crew of the next SpaceX private astronaut flight called Polaris Dawn, (Left to Right) Anna Menon, who works to develop astronaut operations for SpaceX, Scott Poteet, who served as the mission director of the Inspirat

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The crew will try the first commercial spacewalk using SpaceX's specially designed EVA spacesuit. Creating a base on the Moon and a city on Mars will need thousands of spacesuits, so developing this suit and performing the EVA are crucial steps toward a scalable design for future long-term missions.

The Polaris Dawn crew will be the first to also test Starlink's laser communication system in space, collecting crucial data for future lunar, Mars and deep space missions.

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