Author: Anna Heiney

Weather could be a factor for Saturday’s planned liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on the company’s eleventh commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station. Meteorologists with the U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron have issued the latest forecast for tomorrow, predicting a 60 percent chance of favorable weather at the 5:07 p.m. EDT launch time.

Storms rumbled through the area Thursday afternoon and evening, scrubbing the first launch attempt and leaving considerable cloudiness across Kennedy Space Center and the surrounding area. The primary weather concerns for Saturday’s launch are anvil clouds, cumulus clouds and flight through precipitation. The forecast is similar for Sunday, which currently has a 50-50 chance of favorable conditions.

There is a 70 percent chance of favorable weather for Saturday’s planned launch of the eleventh SpaceX cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station. The forecast provided by the U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron cites anvil clouds, cumulus clouds, and flight through precipitation as the primary concerns.

Liftoff of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled for 5:07 p.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The vehicle is carrying a Dragon spacecraft loaded with about 6,000 pounds of experiments and supplies bound for the space station. Join us here Saturday beginning at 4:30 p.m. for live countdown coverage.

For more information on the SpaceX CRS-11 mission, visit http://www.nasa.gov/spacex. For more information about the International Space Station, visit http://www.nasa.gov/station.

Preparations continue toward launch of the eleventh SpaceX cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station on Thursday, June 1. Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket is targeted for an instantaneous window at 5:55 p.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The forecast from the U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron shows a 70 percent chance of favorable weather.

NASA Television will provide multiple broadcasts highlighting some of the launch activities beginning today, including the “What’s on Board” science briefing at 1 p.m. and the prelaunch news conference at 4 p.m. These events also will stream live on the agency’s website at www.nasa.gov/live. See the full briefings and events schedule here.

Live launch coverage begins tomorrow at 5:15 p.m. EDT right here on the launch blog and on NASA Television.

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Residents aboard the International Space Station are expecting a cargo delivery Sunday.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 on Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Friday afternoon carrying a Dragon spacecraft packed with nearly 7,000 pounds of science experiments, crew supplies and technology demonstrations bound for the orbiting laboratory. The on-time liftoff at 4:43 p.m. EDT set the spacecraft on a two-day chase of the station. (Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett. View larger)

“We’re very excited to have our cargo and Dragon safely on orbit and we’re looking forward to it arriving at the International Space Station,” said Kirk Shireman, manager of the International Space Station Program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, adding that all systems on the station are ready to support the mission.

SpaceX reports the Dragon spacecraft is healthy and performing as expected. Its first orbital adjustment burn is scheduled for Saturday morning.

Dragon will arrive at the station Sunday. Watch the rendezvous and capture live on NASA TV beginning at 5:30 a.m. Sunday on NASA TV. Installation of the Dragon on the bottom side of the station’s Harmony module is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. For updates throughout the mission, visit www.nasa.gov/spacex.

A post-launch news conference will air on NASA TV at 6 p.m. EDT.

Here’s another view of the today’s liftoff with the countdown clock in the foreground. Photo credit: NASA/Frankie Martin

SpaceX successfully landed the Falcon 9’s first stage on a drone ship, nicknamed “Of Course I Still Love You,” located offshore in the Atlantic Ocean. In this screen capture, the first stage is clearly seen standing on the deck of the ship.

Next up for the Dragon is a series of thruster firings that will set up a rendezvous with the orbiting laboratory on Sunday.

NASA astronaut Jeff Williams and astronaut Tim Peake of the European Space Agency will capture the spacecraft using the station’s robotic arm. The crew will pressurize the space between the station and Dragon and open the hatch between the two spacecraft the next day.

You can watch the rendezvous and capture live on NASA TV beginning at 5:30 a.m. Sunday on NASA TV. Installation of the Dragon on the bottom side of the station’s Harmony module is set to begin at 9:30 a.m.

Now sailing through its preliminary orbit, the Dragon spacecraft is unfurling its solar arrays.

After a successful launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the company’s Dragon spacecraft is flying solo and beginning its two-day orbital pursuit of the International Space Station.

Dragon’s power-producing solar arrays will begin deploying in about a minute and a half.