Space X's Crew Dragon Launch Escape Test: How To Watch Live Online

KEY POINTS

Watch SpaceX's Crew Drago launch escape test live online
The event is scheduled Saturday, Jan. 18
This will be the last test before NASA sends astronauts in SpaceX rocket

The in-flight abort test of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon is scheduled to take off this Saturday from Florida. Those who are willing to watch the abort test may do so via live streaming options.

The event, known as Crew Dragon launch escape test, will check the capabilities of the capsule to safely escape in case of an emergency during launch. SpaceX will use the Falcon 9 rocket to launch the unmanned spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Crew Dragon launch escape test is conducted to show NASA that the spacecraft has the ability to, accurately, carry astronauts to safety in the unfortunate event of a failure at the time of launch. According to the private spacecraft company, there is a four-hour test window that opens at 8:00 a.m. ET.

However, in case the launch cannot happen on Saturday, the backup test with the same four-hour window opening at 8:00. a.m. ET will be available Sunday, Jan. 19 and Monday, Jan. 20. Watch SpaceX’s Crew Dragon abort test live on NASA and SpaceX’s YouTube channels. The live telecast begins at 7:45 a.m. ET.

According to Space.com, this will be the second launch for SpaceX in 2020. Moreover, it will be the third time SpaceX has launched its Falcon 9. On Jan. 18, Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO, announced on Twitter that the upcoming crucial Crew Dragon escape test has the go-ahead.

This mission will hit the last milestone before SpaceX can launch NASA astronauts to the International Space Station this year. In March 2019, an unmanned Crew Dragon was successfully launched in a mission known as Demo-1. However, the capsule was destroyed at the ground testing level of the abort system.

The Crew Dragon spacecraft comes with abort engines specially designed to pull the capsule away from the rocket if there is a mishap during ascent.

Weather conditions for Saturday’s launch event give the best opportunity for the test towards the end of the four-hour slot. However, it can change, as per the latest weather data on the day.