Category: SpaceX

SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft – carrying more than 5,800 pounds of critical science, hardware, and crew supplies – is on its way to the International Space Station following a successful launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The company’s Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at 8:44 p.m. EDT, beginning SpaceX’s 25th resupply services mission to the orbiting laboratory.

Dragon is now safely in orbit with its solar arrays deployed and drawing power for the nearly two-day trip to the space station.

“We’re excited to continue to help transport this kind of cargo for NASA and also to carry the crew members who are the key component for doing research and managing things on station,” said Benjamin Reed, senior director of Human Spaceflight Programs at SpaceX. “All of this, of course, is not possible without our partnerships with NASA, with the Space Force, and all of our customers. We can’t thank you enough for the opportunity to be a part of this and be a part of this great science community.”

The spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at the space station on Saturday, July 16. Upon its arrival, Dragon will autonomously dock to the station’s Harmony module while NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Bob Hines monitor operations. Live coverage of Dragon’s arrival will air on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website  beginning at 10 a.m. EDT. Docking is scheduled for approximately 11:20 a.m.

In addition to delivering station supplies and hardware, Dragon also will deliver multiple science and research investigations. One of those is the Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT). Developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, EMIT will use imaging spectroscopy technology to measure the mineral composition of dust in Earth’s arid regions to better understand what effects it has on the planet.

The spacecraft also will deliver five CubeSats, or small satellites, with varying focuses of study; an investigation using tissue chips to study the aging of immune cells; and an experiment looking at an alternative for concrete using organic material and on-site materials. These are just a few of the more than 250 investigations that will take place during Expedition 67.

“It’s going to be a very busy next few weeks onboard the International Space Station with all the experiments and cargo that Dragon is bringing up,” said Dina Contella, operations integration manager for NASA’s International Space Station Program. “I just really want to congratulate again the SpaceX and NASA teams on another great launch, and I’m looking forward to the Dragon docking on Saturday.”

Dragon will spend about a month attached to the space station before autonomously undocking and returning to Earth with research and return cargo, splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean.

To stay updated on all station activities, follow @space_station and @ISS_Research on Twitter, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts. Or follow along the station blog at: https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/.

SpaceX’s cargo Dragon spacecraft has separated from the Falcon 9 rocket, continuing its journey to the International Space Station to deliver a shipment of supplies and equipment critical for multiple science and research investigations that will take place in space.

Dragon is expected to arrive at the station Saturday, July 16, and will autonomously dock to the station’s Harmony module, while NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Bob Hines monitor operations. The spacecraft will spend about one month attached to the orbiting laboratory before autonomously undocking and returning to Earth with research and return cargo.

The first stage of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket has successfully landed on the company’s “A Shortfall of Gravitas” drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the 130th time teams have recovered a first stage booster from Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy vehicles. Today’s launch marked the fifth flight for this Falcon 9, and it is the third Dragon flight to the International Space Station this year.

Up next, Dragon will separate from the rocket’s second stage for its solo journey to the International Space Station.

The nine Merlin engines in the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage have finished their burn, and the first stage has separated from the vehicle. As the second stage continues carrying Dragon on its journey, the first stage will attempt a landing on the drone ship “A Shortfall of Gravitas.” This coming up in just a little more than five minutes.

Ignition and liftoff! SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and uncrewed Dragon spacecraft are climbing away from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A, beginning the company’s 25th resupply services mission to the International Space Station. Liftoff occurred right on time at 8:44 p.m. EDT.

Dragon will deliver more than 5,800 pounds of cargo to the orbiting laboratory, and its arrival is planned for Saturday, July 16. Coming up in the next minute, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 will pass through Max Q – the moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket. After this, the rocket’s first and second stages will separate.

The countdown is proceeding according to schedule, and everything remains on track for tonight’s launch of SpaceX’s 25th resupply services mission to the International Space Station. At this time, the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage has been fueled with liquid oxygen and fueling of the second stage is underway.

During the next 15 minutes, the rocket’s engines will begin to chill in preparation for launch and the Dragon spacecraft will transition to internal power. About one minute before liftoff, the command flight computer will begin its final prelaunch checks and, following this, the SpaceX launch director will verify “go” for launch.

At 8:44 p.m., the Falcon 9 rocket’s nine Merlin engines will roar to life, sending Dragon on a journey to the space station to deliver critical supplies and material that will support dozens of the more than 250 science and research investigations that will occur during Expedition 67.

Be sure to keep looking up following liftoff, as the space station will be passing over the Space Coast starting at 9:03 p.m. EDT. This will look similar to an airplane or a very bright star moving across the sky, except the station doesn’t have any blinking lights, won’t change direction, and will be moving considerably faster – 17,500 miles per hour compared to an airplane’s roughly 600 miles per hour.

The station will be visible 50 degrees above the horizon for six minutes maximum before crossing back below the horizon. It will first appear west by southwest and disappear north by northeast. For more information or to sign up for alerts when the space station passes over your area, visit https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/.

As a reminder, you can tune in to NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website for a live look at tonight’s launch.

Hello from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida! A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the cargo Dragon spacecraft atop, stands ready for liftoff at Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. Live countdown coverage has begun – watch now on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website.

Liftoff is just a little under 30 minutes away, at 8:44 p.m. EDT. This is the 25th commercial resupply services (CRS-25) mission for SpaceX, delivering more than 5,800 pounds of science experiments and research, hardware, and crew supplies to the International Space Station.

About 12 minutes after launch, Dragon will separate from the Falcon 9 rocket’s second stage, beginning a series of carefully choreographed thruster firings to reach the space station two days later.

Here’s a look at some of tonight’s countdown and ascent milestones. All times are approximate.

COUNTDOWN 

Hr/Min/Sec        Event
– 00:38:00             SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load
– 00:35:00             RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins
– 00:35:00             1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
– 00:16:00             2nd stage LOX loading begins
– 00:07:00             Falcon 9 begins pre-launch engine chill
– 00:05:00             Dragon transitions to internal power
– 00:01:00             Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks
– 00:01:00             Propellant tanks pressurize for flight
– 00:00:45             SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch
– 00:00:03             Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start
– 00:00:00             Falcon 9 liftoff

LAUNCH, LANDING, AND DRAGON DEPLOYMENT

Hr/Min/Sec        Event
00:01:18               Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:30               1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:34               1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:41               2nd stage engine starts
00:06:37               1st stage entry burn begins
00:08:38               2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO)
00:08:38               1st stage landing
00:11:49               Dragon separates from 2nd stage
00:12:35               Dragon nosecone open sequence begins

 

NASA and SpaceX are targeting 8:44 p.m. EDT today, July 14, for SpaceX’s 25th commercial resupply (CRS-25) launch to the International Space Station. The company’s Falcon 9 rocket and cargo Dragon spacecraft will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Weather officials with Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s 45th Weather Squadron continue to predict a 70% chance of favorable weather conditions for today’s launch, with the primary concerns revolving around the cumulus cloud rule and flight through precipitation.

Dragon will carry more than 5,800 pounds of cargo, including a variety of NASA investigations such as NASA’s Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT), which will identify the composition of mineral dust from Earth’s arid regions and analyze dust carried through the atmosphere from deserts to see what effects it has on the planet, further advancing NASA’s data contributions to monitoring climate change.

Other investigations include studying the aging of immune cells and the potential to reverse those effects during postflight recovery, a CubeSat that will monitor cloud top and ocean surface temperatures which could help scientists understand Earth’s climate and weather systems, and a student experiment testing a concrete alternative for potential use in future lunar and Martian habitats.

Beginning at 8:15 p.m. EDT, join us on the CRS-25 mission blog for live coverage, and follow along on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website for the live launch broadcast.

Teams with NASA and SpaceX completed the final major review before launch – the Launch Readiness Review – for the company’s 25th commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station. At the conclusion of the review, teams confirmed the target launch time of 8:44 p.m. EDT tomorrow, July 14. Tune in to the agency’s website at 8 p.m. EDT today, Wednesday, July 13, to hear from NASA and SpaceX officials during a prelaunch teleconference.

Participants include:

• Dana Weigel, deputy program manager, International Space Station Program, NASA
• Heidi Parris, associate scientist, International Space Station Program, NASA
• Benjamin Reed, senior director, Human Spaceflight Programs, SpaceX
• Brian Cizek, launch weather officer, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s 45th Weather Squadron

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft will lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A in Florida to deliver more than 5,800 pounds of crew supplies, equipment, and science experiments to the orbiting laboratory. Weather officials with Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s 45th Weather Squadron are currently predicting a 70% chance of favorable weather conditions for launch. Primary weather concerns are the cumulus cloud rule and flight through precipitation.