NASA Wallops

Wallops is Virginia's only launch range, home to rockets and so much more. Stay up to date on launches, balloons, and other activities supported around the globe by Wallops: nasa.gov/blogs/wallops/

In March 1970, more than 30 sounding rockets launched from Wallops during a total solar eclipse to study changes in the atmosphere. In the decades since, Wallops has launched thousands of rockets, from sounding rockets all the way to Antares missions resupplying the Space Station. All of these rocket launches owe inspiration to our parent facility's namesake: Robert Goddard. One hundred years ago, Goddard launched the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket, carrying us into the space age. These launches and many other following helped shape NASA's goals of reaching the Moon and beyond.

At 7 p.m. Eastern Time on February 27, DIU's Cassowary Vex mission successfully took flight from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The mission consisted of a suborbital launch of a fully integrated hypersonic test platform capable of sustained, maneuverable flight at speeds exceeding Mach 5 and leveraged a modified #Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) launch vehicle from @RocketLab. This project is a significant milestone and supports the DoW’s designation of Scaled Hypersonics (SHY) as one of six critical technology areas. Learn more here: diu.mil/latest/cassowa…

LIFTOFF! Launch of our latest hypersonic test mission from Virginia, the "That's Not A Knife" mission for @DIU_x and @HypersonixAU

Liquid oxygen loading is underway for our HASTE launch from LC-2 for @DIU_x and @HypersonixAU. The range is ready for an on-time liftoff in just over an hour's time. Webcast will be live from T-30 mins youtube.com/watch?v=tQru-O… Liftoff set for: 🚀4:50 pm ET 🚀1:50 pm PT 🚀21:50 UTC

Launch preparations continue for our HASTE hypersonic test mission for @DIU_x and @HypersonixAU. Propellant load is about to begin at LC-2. Accounting for upper level winds, our new T-0 for today's launch is: 🚀4:50 p.m. ET 🚀1:50 p.m. PT 🚀21:50 UTC

#TBT to 70 years ago when @NSF’s McMurdo Station opened in Antarctica. @NASA science performed at and near McMurdo includes high-altitude scientific balloon launches to collect cosmic light and particles at the very edge of space. More about the station: nsf.gov/geo/opp/ail/mc…

Launch update 🚀 Our next HASTE launch attempt from LC-2 for "That's Not A Knife" with @DIU_x and @HypersonixAU has been scheduled for tomorrow, Friday February 27. Liftoff set for no earlier than: 🚀4:00 p.m. ET 🚀1:00 p.m. PT 🚀21:00 UTC

We are standing down from a launch attempt today due to out-of-bounds launch commit criteria. Our next launch window for "That's Not A Knife" will be shared shortly.

We are GO to launch our hypersonic test mission on HASTE for the @DIU_x and @HypersonixAU. "That's Not A Knife" is scheduled for liftoff at LC-2 in Virginia tomorrow, February 25 from 4pm/1pm Eastern/Pacific. And yes, there will be a webcast 📺🚀

After overnight data showed an interruption in helium flow in the SLS interim cryogenic propulsion stage, teams are troubleshooting and preparing for a likely rollback of Artemis II to the VAB at @NASAKennedy. This will almost assuredly impact the March launch window. @NASA will continue to provide updates as they become available.

We are targeting no earlier than March 6 for the launch of Artemis II, pending completion of required work at the launch pad and analysis of test data. The Artemis astronauts have entered quarantine to remain in good health before the mission. go.nasa.gov/4s2XFVA

💖 Valentine's Day can bring out a lot of emotions. Whether your love is taking you around the Moon or the thought of candy hearts has you in a black hole of despair...we've got valentines for you! svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12861/

It’s been another week of launching, testing, and discovering at @NASA 🚀 🧑‍🚀Crew-12 successfully launches to @Space_Station 🌕Testing continues to ready Artemis II for flight 🌌NASA sounding rockets investigate auroras Here’s your NASA Minute!

Two NASA sounding rocket missions have successfully launched from Alaska — straight through the aurora. 🚀✨ The Black and Diffuse Auroral Science Surveyor (left photo) lifted off Feb. 9, followed by the twin-rocket GNEISS mission (right photo) early Feb. 10. More on the missions: go.nasa.gov/3M0eIIA 📸 Credits: Left: Craig Heinselman, University of Alaska, Fairbanks/Geophysical Institute Right: Teik Araya, NASA

NASA’s GNEISS sounding rocket mission is heading to Alaska to do a CT-style scan of an aurora 🔬✨ Flying two rockets through the northern lights, scientists will trace their electric currents through Earth’s atmosphere. Launch window opens Feb. 7! 🚀 go.nasa.gov/4ryGhYf

NASA completed a wet dress rehearsal for the Artemis II mission in the early morning hours on Feb. 3. To allow teams to review data and conduct a second wet dress rehearsal, NASA will now target March as the the earliest possible launch opportunity for the Artemis II mission. go.nasa.gov/4ka7tKs

Our "wet dress rehearsal" for Artemis II is underway at @NASAKennedy! Watch our static feed as teams practice fueling the rocket and conduct a simulated launch countdown as we prepare for the real thing: youtu.be/5zDlM8d4Q7g Real-time Artemis updates: nasa.gov/blogs/artemis

The wet dress rehearsal for the Artemis II mission around the Moon began at 8:13pm ET on Jan. 31 and will continue tomorrow with @NASAKennedy teams fueling the rocket. The results from this test will help inform teams about a possible launch date. go.nasa.gov/4kd17Kw

121 opportunities to learn something new! 🚀 Cubes in Space is accepting applications from middle and high school educators for a hands-on program that launches student experiments into space. This free program gives students ages 11-18 the opportunity to design experiments addressing real-world problems and compete for actual spaceflight missions. Selected experiments will launch on a NASA sounding rockets Wallops in Virginia in late June 2026 and on a scientific balloon in New Mexico in late August 2026. Registration closes February 27, 2026: nasa.gov/stem-content/s…

Polar night, round two! ❄️🚀 NASA’s PolarNOx sounding rocket mission just completed its second launch from Alaska — returning to Earth’s high latitudes to study nitric oxide created by auroras in the dark polar atmosphere. More info from its first flight: go.nasa.gov/49PJ4qf 📸: NASA/Lee Wingfield