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[Starver]

Well, my future spaceship construction business is doubtless going to produce Asp, Moray, Boa, Python, Mamba, Adder, and Fer-de-Lance products...

[sneakey pete]

I get that one

Oh, and the latest i've heard is that they've confirmed the 7th as the launch date. As someone pointed out recently, if they wait much longer there's a soyuz mission to the ISS that they'd have to wait even longer for.

[alway]

I get that one

Oh, and the latest i've heard is that they've confirmed the 7th as the launch date. As someone pointed out recently, if they wait much longer there's a soyuz mission to the ISS that they'd have to wait even longer for.

Yep, that date looks to be correct. Updating accordingly. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2403555,00.asp

will launch the first privately funded spacecraft on a mission to rendezvous with the International Space Station on May 7.

scheduled to lift off from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 9:38 a.m. Eastern time

[alway]

There's currently a webcast going on for their test-firing on the pad: http://www.spacex.com/webcast.php
Not particularly exciting, as it will only be a few seconds of engines firing w/o going anywhere, but YMMV.

Edit: Looks like there's going to be another delay; May 10 might be the launch date; nothing final yet as far as I know.

[alway]

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/04/11543790-spacex-station-launch-set-for-may-19?lite
Launch scheduled for May 19, with the launch window starting at 4:55 AM EST.

[Starver]

These delays remind me (inappropriately) of the old tale...

Spoiler: Which is off-topic, but here you are anyway... (click to show/hide)

On a plane, an <insert appropriately denigrated ethnic description for your audience> man was enjoying his first trip to <an appropriate destination on the other side of an ocean>, planned to be landing at their destination in the late-evening.  About half way across the ocean concerned, there's a little turbulence felt in the cabin and shortly afterwards the captain comes on the cabin address system: "Ladies and gentlemen, sorry about that, we've got a small problem with one of our four engines and we thought it best to shut it down.  There's absolutely no problem flying on the other three engines, but it will mean that we're going to be about half an hour longer in reaching our destination.", and such other reassurances as could be mustered for the situation.

The woman sitting next to our hero starts complaining about maybe missing connections, and everything, but he's an optimist and tells her it'll be Ok, and tells her to stop worrying.  If nothing else, he knows the hotel he's booked into has rooms, and the person who recommended it said they'd take new arrivals at any time at night.

A little later, now perhaps 3/4 of the way over the ocean, there's another little shudder and after a slightly longer pause than last time the captain is once again heard in the cabin: "Ladies and gentlemen, just another little precautionary procedure there.  Just to reassure you that everything is perfectly safe but due to now flying on only two of our engines our time to destination is probably going to be about another hour later than we had planned."  People are worrying, of course, but our man from <wherever> is a laid back soul and his natural attitude and "it'll be all right" comments does somewhat calm those around him.

A little later, not quite yet over land again, another shudder is felt.  In the long gap between this event and any announcement, our man shows his first signs of irritation...  "I bet that's another engine they've gone and shut off, and he's going to be saying how as we're delayed even further.  I do hope the last engine doesn't get problems, or we'll be up here all night!"

[alway]

Just a bump to remind those who wanted to watch this; Launch is scheduled for 4:15 AM EST (1:15 AM PST) tomorrow (or a little under 13 hours from the time of this posting).

Their 'press kit' has a whole bunch of info on the launch and the schedule of events: http://www.spacex.com/downloads/COTS-2-Press-Kit-5-14-12.pdf

As per the press kit:
Mission Highlights
During the mission, Dragon must perform a series of complex tasks, each presenting significant technical challenges (timeline could
change):
 Day 1/Launch Day: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launches a Dragon spacecraft into orbit from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
 Day 2: Dragon orbits Earth as it travels toward the International Space Station.
 Day 3: Dragon’s sensors and flight systems are subject to a series of complicated tests to determine if the vehicle is ready to
berth with the space station; these tests include maneuvers and systems checks that see the vehicle come within 1.5 miles of
the station.   
 Day 4: NASA decides if Dragon is allowed to attempt to berth with the station.  If so, Dragon approaches; it is captured by
station’s robotic arm and attached to the station.  This requires extreme precision even as both Dragon and station orbit the
Earth every 90 minutes.
 Day 5 - TBD: Astronauts open Dragon’s hatch, unload supplies and fill Dragon with return cargo.
 TBD: After approximately two weeks, Dragon is detached from the station and returns to Earth, landing in the Pacific, hundreds
of miles west of Southern California.

I'm not sure how much of it will be broadcasted live via webstream, but we're probably looking at a good several hours over the course of the next few days.

[Sirus]

Is that second time supposed to be PST instead of EST?

[alway]

Ah, yep; thanks for spotting that.

[Sirus]

Watching now, though it's really just a blank screen with some music. I'm so excited, and also glad that we got a new router recently. The old one had some serious trouble with streaming video :/

[alway]

Webstream's up. http://www.spacex.com/webcast/

[ToonyMan]

About 31 minutes before launch.

They said it's going to launch at 4:55am and 18 seconds EST.

T-13 minutes!

[Sirus]

T-10! I'm too excited to use the restroom!

6 minutes and counting.

1 minute!

[ToonyMan]

NO THE COMPUTERS WEREN'T READY

[Jelle]

Nuuuuuuu