8.09.2021

A two-stage suborbital sounding rocket is scheduled for launch Sept. 11, 2021, for the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration from NASA’s launch range at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

The launch of the Terrier-Improved Malemute rocket is scheduled between 4-7 p.m. EDT on Sept. 11. The backup launch date is Sept. 12.

The flight is part of the HOT Shot program, short for High Operational Tempo, which collects scientific data that benefits aerospace research and informs future weapon designs for the U.S. nuclear enterprise. Its non-nuclear scientific experiments evaluate prototypes and help develop high-fidelity computer models and mechanical flight simulators.

Live coverage of the mission is scheduled to begin at 3:40 p.m. EDT on the Wallops YouTube channel. Launch updates will be available on the Wallops Facebook and Twitterpages.

The rocket launch is expected to be visible from the Eastern Shore of Virginia and Maryland and southern Delaware. The NASA Visitor Center at Wallops will not be open for viewing the launch.