SpaceXs Cargo Dragon spacecraft, seen atop a Falcon 9 rocket, at the launch pad at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 24, 2021, in preparation for the businesss 23rd business resupply services objective. Credit: SpaceX
NASA industrial cargo launch company SpaceX is targeting 5:06 a.m. EST Tuesday, December 21, to introduce its 24th industrial resupply services mission to the International Space Station. Liftoff will be from Launch Complex 39A at the companys Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
SpaceXs Dragon spacecraft will deliver brand-new science investigations, products, and devices for the international crew. Live coverage will air on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the companys website, with prelaunch events starting Monday, December 20.
Dragons 6,500 pounds of cargo consist of a variety of NASA examinations, such as a protein crystal development study that might improve how cancer treatment drugs are provided to clients and a portable bioprinter that might one day be used to print tissue straight onto wounds for faster recovery. There are also experiments from trainees at a number of universities as part of the Student Payload Opportunity with Citizen Science (SPOCS) program and an investigation from the makers of Tide that takes a look at detergent efficacy in microgravity.
About 12 minutes after launch, Dragon will separate from the Falcon 9 rockets second phase and begin a thoroughly choreographed series of thruster shootings to reach the space station. Arrival to the station is prepared for Wednesday, December 22. Dragon will dock autonomously to the forward-facing port of the stations Harmony module, with NASA astronauts Raja Chari and Thomas Marshburn monitoring operations from the station.
The spacecraft is anticipated to spend about a month connected to the orbiting station before it returns to Earth with research and return freight, crashing off the coast of Florida.
Complete protection of this mission is as follows (all times Eastern):.
Tuesday, December 21.
4:45 a.m.– NASA television launch protection starts for the 5:06 a.m. launch.
Wednesday, December 22.
3 a.m.– NASA TV protection begins for Dragon docking to spaceport station.
4:30 a.m.– Docking.
About 12 minutes after launch, Dragon will separate from the Falcon 9 rockets 2nd phase and begin a thoroughly choreographed series of thruster firings to reach the space station. Release day coverage of the mission will be readily available on the NASA site. Follow countdown protection on our launch blog at:.
Members of the public can register to attend this launch virtually. NASAs virtual guest program for this mission also includes curated launch resources, alerts about associated chances, and a virtual visitor passport stamp following a successful launch.
NASA television launch protection.
Live coverage of the launch on NASA TV will start at 4:45 a.m. Tuesday, December 21. For downlink info, schedules, and links to streaming video, visit:.
https://www.nasa.gov/nasatv.
On launch day, a “tidy feed” of the launch without NASA TV commentary will be continued the NASA TV media channel.
NASA website launch coverage.
Release day protection of the mission will be readily available on the NASA site. Protection will consist of live streaming and blog site updates starting no earlier than 4:45 a.m. Tuesday, December 21, as the countdown milestones take place. On-demand streaming video and pictures of the launch will be readily available shortly after liftoff. Follow countdown coverage on our launch blog at:.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacexcrs24/.
Go to the launch essentially.
Members of the public can register to attend this launch essentially. Registrants will get mission updates and activities by email. NASAs virtual visitor program for this objective likewise includes curated launch resources, alerts about associated opportunities, and a virtual visitor passport stamp following a successful launch.
