WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. - NASA's Wallops Island Flight Facility is opening to the public for this Thursday's morning rocket launch. The launch window is 5:30 to 9:30 a.m. on June 26 and visitors will be able to hear Wallops Range Control, the operators in the control room, throughout the grounds.
Gates open at 5 a.m. with the visitor center encouraging guests to arrive at least 30 minutes early and have a backup viewing plan in case they reach capacity. Parking is not allowed on Route 175. The Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce has compiled a list of other viewing sites in the area for visitors who aren't able to make it to the grounds, including:
Curtis Merritt Harbor
Robert Reed Park
Museum of Chincoteague Island
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island
For attendees who arrive after capacity has been reached at the Wallops Visitor Center, alternate viewing spots can be found in surrounding areas.
For those who can't make the viewing in person, the Wallops YouTube Channel will livestream the event beginning 15 minutes before the launch.
Thursday's launch is the conclusion of NASA's RockOn! program, an educational workshop for college students and faculty. The teams will place their final experiments from the program in the rocket.
Guests should continue to check social media for updates about the launch.
Attendees planning on viewing Thursday's launch should arrive early, bring a flashlight and have a backup location in case the visitors center reaches capacity. (NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitors Center)