Watch Live As A Spacecraft Leaves The ISS Today With A "Fire Experiment" On Board

Today , NASA is go to live flow the departure of a secret spacecraft from the International Space Station ( ISS ) . Normally , this would be quite a mundane function – but an challenging experiment that will take stead should quicken the appetite of space geographic expedition devotee .

resilient coverage of the spacecraft , Cygnus , leaving the ISS will begin at about 9 am EDT ( 2 postmortem examination BST ) . The spacecraft , which go far in March   with 3,400 kilograms ( 7,500 hammering ) of cargo , willbe detachedby NASA ’s Tim Kopra and ESA ’s Tim Peake using the station ’s robotic weapon at about 9.30 am EDT ( 2.30 pm BST ) .

Five minute later , theSaffire - I experimentwill begin , led by NASA ’s Glenn Research Center . commonly , Cygnus vehicles are simply sent to cauterise up in Earth ’s air after detaching from the ISS . But this experiment will lead off a fire in a small box the sizing of a breast of drawers   inside the remote-controlled spacecraft . The attack will be closely monitored to see how it behaves in distance . It will be confine to the box it is in , though , so the whole ballistic capsule wo n’t get attack .

Sadly , the genuine fire itself wo n’t be streamed live , only the departure . paradigm from the mental test are not expect until tomorrow . But you’re able to still tune up in for   the passing below . Live shot   of Cygnus are expected to continue until 10.03 am EDT ( 3.03 Prime Minister BST ) , with a NASA voice enjoin IFLScience " it will be daytime so we should get some good view of Cygnus flying away . "

The departure   will be unrecorded streamed on NASA TV , above

Experiments like Saffire - I   are not potential on the ISS for obvious safety reason , but Cygnus provides a unequaled chance in that the space vehicle will be destroyed on re - entry regardless , just in event something does go wrong . Instruments will assess fire growth , O use , and more , with possible benefits including find flammability limits for spacecraft textile in the future tense .

This will be the first of three Saffire missions planned for Cygnus space vehicle . In sum , the flaming is have a bun in the oven to last for six hour . you could check out a video explanation of how this first mission will workhere , and tune in today   to overhear the startle of   the activity .