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United States Departement of Defense

Next launch for this agency

🚀DART AE with Rocket Lab

DART AE via Rocket Lab

Commercial • USA

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 (Launch Area 0 C)

Wallops Island

Mar 30 at 08:00pm

Launchpad time•-0500

Mar 31 at 12:00am

Your local time•+0000

Current status

TBD

Electron

Launch vehicle

DART AE

Mission

37.834

Latitude

-75.488

Longitude

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24 hours before launch

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1 hour before launch

Note: For all launches the scheduled launch dates and times are subject to change due to weather, equipment, crew and other factors.

Mission description

Payload is a scramjet-powered hypersonic vehicle developed by by Australian company Hypersonix.

— DART AE

Livestream

Attending a launch in person

Launches can be viewed 12 kilometers away at NASA's visitor center for no cost. It has an excellent view and it's free but unfortunately entry isn't guaranteed since they don't offer bookings ahead of time. It's first-come-first-served at the door so come an hour early. It's only available as an option for daytime launches within their regular business hours.

This image shows NASA's recommended viewing areas, I've circled in pink my recommendations, scroll below for more details.

Image: NASA/Jamie Adkins

There are public spots available that are actually closer to the launchpads than the visitor center. The best alternative was previously Arbuckle Neck Road but that's been closed for safety reasons. Best now would probably be:

Old Wallops Island Ferry Dock: Closest public spot, about 4 kilometers from the launchpad (compared to 12 kilometers for their visitor center).

Gargatha Landing: 9 kilometers from the launchpad. A quieter spot.

How to get there

The closest commercial airport is Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport in Salisbury, Maryland.

A 1-hour drive by rental car southeast will end at Wallops Island.

Accomodation

Nearby hotels in Chincoteague.

Nearby parking

Parking available on-site.

Agency details