May 23 2016

From The Space Library

MEDIA ADVISORY M16-054 Next SpaceX Commercial Cargo Launch Targeted for Mid-July, NASA Opens Media Accreditation

Media accreditation now is open for the next SpaceX commercial cargo resupply services mission to the International Space Station, targeted for launch no earlier than approximately 1:32 a.m. EDT Saturday, July 16.

An uncrewed SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, carrying crew supplies and station hardware, will lift off on a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), adjacent to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

This is the ninth mission by SpaceX under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services contract. Among the supplies, equipment and science research Dragon will carry is the first of two international docking adapters, which will allow Boeing's CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft to dock to the station when transporting astronauts in the near future as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

Media prelaunch and launch activities will take place at CCAFS and at Kennedy. The deadline for international media to apply for access to CCAFS is 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 14. The deadline to apply for media access to Kennedy is 5 p.m. July 4 for non-citizens, and 5 p.m. July 8 for U.S. citizens.