Upgraded Dragon on resupply mission to ISS [live stream]
SpaceX and NASA is gearing up to launch a Dragon cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station atop a Falcon 9 rocket on Saturday. Watch the live stream here.
The space exploration company confirmed that it would be the first upgraded cargo version of Dragon to launch to the ISS. The new and improved Dragon can carry 50% more science payloads than the previous version.
Update: Mission postponed until Sunday. More details to follow.
SpaceX launch: International Space Station resupply
Date and time
SpaceX confirmed that liftoff is scheduled from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on 5 December 2020 at 11:39 Eastern Standard Time (EST). For SA viewers, that would be 18:39 South African Standard Time (SAST).
If you’re watching from elsewhere in the world, tune in at 8:39 PT (Pacific Time) or 10:39 Central Time (CT) in the United States. Alternatively, it would be 17:39 British Summer Time (BST).
If you’re based in India, get ready for a 22:09 ISD. China, set your alarm for 00:39 CST (Chinese Standard Time) on Sunday 6 December. Viewers from Japan can watch from 1:39 Japan Standard Time (JST).
Those in Australia will need to be ready at 3:39 Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). New Zealanders, that’s 5:39 NZDT (New Zealand Daylight Time).
Watch: SpaceX launch to the ISS
NASA TV coverage of the Falcon 9 launch begins at 11:15 EST (Eastern Standard Time) and 18:15 SAST (South African Standard Time) on 5 December Saturday.
SpaceX and NASA mission details
According to SpaceX, the Falcon 9 booster supporting this mission previously also launched NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the space station in August. It supported the ANASIS-II mission and a Starlink mission as well.
NASA said in a statement that it’s the first launch for SpaceX under NASA’s second Commercial Resupply Services contract.
In addition, weather officials with the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing predict a 40% chance of favourable weather conditions for liftoff, with primary concerns revolving around flight through precipitation, the cumulus cloud rule, and thick cloud layer rule.
The mission will deliver critical supplies and equipment to the International Space Station. The following are including in the deliver:
- Materials for a variety of science experiments
- Meteorite samples and microbes
- 3D engineered heart tissues
- A tool being tested for quick and accurate blood analysis in microgravity
“The mission represents the first on an upgraded version of the company’s Dragon cargo spacecraft designed to carry more science payloads to and from the space station”.
NASA