SpaceX launch can be seen from NC after sunset :: WRAL.com

By Tony Rice, NASA Ambassador

A SpaceX rocket with four astronauts for the first time is expected to be launched from the Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday evening and it could be visible from North Carolina.

The 8:02 p.m. take-off time occurs approximately 40 minutes after sunset for central North Carolina. As the sun sinks below the horizon, it always shines at higher altitudes. The exhaust plume of the rocket, especially as it expands in the finer upper atmosphere, may be visible.

From shortly after 8 p.m., look southeast, initially low on the horizon. The rocket will move from your right to your left as it climbs the hill towards orbit.

This launch shouldn’t be as big as the pre-dawn launches. This is because we will be looking at the light of the setting sun reflected from the plume instead of shining through the rising sun.

On board, billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman and three guests: geoscientist and science communicator Sian Proctor, medical assistant Hayley Arcenaux and Chris Sembroski, a former US space camp advisor.

The launch weather is looking good with the latest forecast from the US Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron predicting 90% favorable conditions.