SpaceX and the Department of Defense are targeting no earlier than Monday, June 24 at 11:30 p.m. EDT to launch the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center’s Space Test Program-2 (STP-2) mission. A Falcon Heavy rocket will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida with about two dozen satellites aboard, including four NASA missions. The NASA technology demonstrations and science missions will help improve future spacecraft design and performance.
SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket on the launchpad ahead of its Dec. 2017 demo mission. Credit: SpaceX
Learn more about the exciting NASA space tech launching on the Falcon Heavy later this month:
Deep Space Atomic Clock – a navigation payload hosted on General Atomics Orbital Test Bed satellite
Space Environment Testbeds – instruments hosted on the Air Force Research Lab’s Demonstration and Science Experiments spacecraftto study how to protect satellites in space
Two days after its launch from Florida, the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft was installed on the Earth-facing side of the International Space Station’s Harmony module on Monday, May 6, at 9:32 a.m. EDT.
The 17th contracted commercial resupply mission from SpaceX (CRS-17) delivered more than 5,500 pounds of research, crew supplies and hardware to the orbiting laboratory. After Dragon spends approximately one month attached to the space station, the spacecraft will return to Earth with about 4,200 pounds of cargo and research.
While the International Space Station was traveling over the north Atlantic Ocean, astronauts David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency and Nick Hague of NASA grappled Dragon at 7:01 a.m. EDT using the space station’s robotic arm Canadarm2.
Ground controllers will now send commands to begin the robotic installation of the spacecraft on bottom of the station’s Harmony module. NASA Television coverage of installation is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Watch online at www.nasa.gov/live.
The Dragon lifted off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida Saturday, May 4 with more than 5,500 pounds of research, equipment, cargo and supplies that will support dozens of investigations aboard the orbiting laboratory.
Here’s some of the research arriving at station:
NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory-3 (OCO-3) examines the complex dynamics of Earth’s atmospheric carbon cycle by collecting measurements to track variations in a specific type of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Understanding carbon sources can aid in forecasting increased atmospheric heat retention and reduce its long-term risks.
The Photobioreactor investigation aims to demonstrate how microalgae can be used together with existing life support systems on the space station to improve recycling of resources. The cultivation of microalgae for food, and as part of a life support system to generate oxygen and consume carbon dioxide, could be helpful in future long-duration exploration missions, as it could reduce the amount of consumables required from Earth.
From left to right, Joshua Santora, NASA Communications; Kenny Todd, manager, International Space Station Operations and Integration, NASA’s Johnson Space Center; and Hans Koenigsmann, vice president, Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceX, participate in a postlaunch press conference at Kennedy Space Center following the SpaceX CRS-17 launch on May 4, 2019. The Dragon spacecraft will arrive at the International Space Station on Monday, May 6. Photo credit: NASA
By Jim Cawley NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
More than 5,500 pounds of cargo is on its way to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The company’s 17th commercial cargo mission to resupply the space station began at 2:48 a.m. EDT on May 4, 2019, with liftoff aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
Kenny Todd, International Space Station Operations and Integration manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, explained during the postlaunch press conference that launch success far overshadowed fatigue with the early morning launch.
“If you have to be up, I can’t think of a better reason than to see one of these launches — it was absolutely spectacular,” Todd said. “We’re really excited to get Dragon on board in a couple of days.”
After a successful climb into space, the Dragon spacecraft now is in orbit with its solar arrays deployed and drawing power.
“We had a beautiful launch today; it was really great,” said Hans Koenigsmann, SpaceX’s vice president, Build and Flight Reliability. “Dragon is on the way, the orbiter is great — it’s right on the money.”
OCO-3 will be robotically installed on the exterior of the space station’s Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility Unit, where it will measure and map carbon dioxide from space to increase our understanding of the relationship between carbon and climate.
STP-H6 is an X-ray communication investigation that will be used to perform a space-based demonstration of a new technology for generating beams of modulated X-rays. This technology may be useful for providing efficient communication to deep space probes, or communicating with hypersonic vehicles where plasma sheaths prevent traditional radio communications.
Live coverage of the rendezvous and capture will air on NASA Television and the agency’s website beginning at 5:30 a.m. on Monday, May 6. Capture is scheduled for 7 a.m.; installation coverage is set to begin at 9 a.m. Astronauts aboard the station will capture the Dragon using the space station’s robotic arm and then install it on the station’s Harmony module.
The Dragon spacecraft will spend about four weeks attached to the space station, returning to Earth with more than 4,200 pounds of research, hardware and crew supplies.
The two-stage Falcon 9 launch vehicle lifts off Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station carrying the SpaceX’s Dragon resupply spacecraft to the International Space Station. Liftoff was at 2:48 a.m. EDT, May 4, 2019. Photo credit: NASA/Glenn Benson
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is on its way to the International Space Station, after launching on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket at 2:48 a.m. EDT on May 4, 2019. A postlaunch press conference will take place today at 4 a.m. on NASA Television and the agency’s website.
Participants are:
Kenny Todd, manager, International Space Station Operations and Integration, NASA’s Johnson Space Center
Hans Koenigsmann, vice president, Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceX
Live coverage of the rendezvous and capture of the Dragon will air on NASA Television and the agency’s website beginning at 5:30 a.m. Monday, May 6. Capture is scheduled for 7 a.m.; installation coverage is set to begin at 9 a.m.
The Dragon spacecraft will remain at the space station for about four weeks before returning to Earth with more than 4,200 pounds of research and return cargo.
Dragon’s solar arrays deploy en route to the International Space Station on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Photo credit: NASA
Dragon’s solar arrays are unfurled and the spacecraft will begin a carefully choreographed series of thruster firings to reach the International Space Station two days later, Monday, May 6. Dragon will deliver about 5,500 pounds of cargo to the International Space Station.
Visit www.nasa.gov/live for live coverage of the rendezvous and capture on Monday, May 6, starting at 5:30 a.m. Capture is scheduled for 7 a.m., while Dragon installation to the nadir port of the Harmony module of the station will occur at approximately 9 a.m.
The Falcon 9 rocket’s first-stage engines have finished their burn and the first stage has separated from the vehicle. As the second stage continues the flight, the first stage will aim for a landing on the Of Course I Love You drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft lift off from Space Launch Complex 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Photo credit: NASA
We have ignition and liftoff at 2:48 a.m. EDT of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft! It is the company’s 17th mission to deliver supplies, equipment and science materials to the International Space Station.
The vehicle is quickly climbing away from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
Launch preparations are proceeding smoothly, and everything is on track for liftoff of the SpaceX CRS-17 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Fueling of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle is underway.
Meteorologists with the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing predict a 90% chance of favorable weather for liftoff of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The primary weather concern is ground winds.
The SpaceX Dragon will deliver more than 5,500 pounds of research investigations and equipment, cargo and supplies that will support some of the hundreds of investigations aboard the International Space Station.
NASA Television and the agency’s website are providing live coverage of the launch.
