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NASA to Broadcast Next Space Station Resupply Launch, Prelaunch Activities

NASA commercial cargo provider SpaceX is targeting 6:01 p.m. EDT on Thursday, July 25, for the launch of its next resupply mission to the International Space Station.

This is the 18th SpaceX mission under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services contract. The Dragon spacecraft will deliver supplies including critical materials to support dozens of the more than 250 science and research investigations that will occur during Expeditions 59 and 60. The spacecraft’s unpressurized trunk will transport NASA’s International Docking Adapter-3 (IDA-3).

The spacecraft will take two days to reach the space station before installation on Saturday, July 27. When it arrives to the space station, NASA astronauts Nick Hague will grapple Dragon with Christina Koch acting as a backup. NASA’s Andrew Morgan will assist the duo by monitoring telemetry during Dragon’s approach. The station crew will monitor Dragon vehicle functions during rendezvous. After Dragon capture, ground commands will be sent from mission control in Houston for the station’s arm to rotate and install it on the bottom of the station’s Harmony module.

Full mission coverage is as follows (all times Eastern):

Thursday, July 25

Press Site Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Badging Hours of Operation: 10 – 11 a.m.
Foreign National Pickup Times: 10:30 a.m.

News Media Schedule

  • Noon                         K-9 Inspection for remote reset
  • 12:15                        Bus departs for Space Launch Complex 40
  • 12:30-1 p.m.              Remote reset
  • 4 p.m.                       Satellite Trucks depart for NASA Causeway
  • 4:30 p.m.                  K-9 Inspection for VAB Roof
  • 4:35 p.m.                  Wire Van departs for NASA Causeway
  • 4:40 p.m.                  Wire Van leaves for VAB Roof
  • 4:45 p.m.                  Buses depart for NASA Causeway and VAB Roof
  • 6:01 p.m.                  Launch

Launch Viewing 

Media may view the CRS-18 launch from the Kennedy Press Site, NASA Causeway or the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) roof (space is limited).

NASA TV Launch Coverage

NASA TV live coverage will begin at 5:45 p.m. For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit https://www.nasa.gov/ntv.

Audio only of the news conferences and launch coverage will be carried on the NASA “V” circuits, which may be accessed by dialing 321-867-1220, -1240, -1260 or -7135. On launch day, “mission audio,” the launch conductor’s countdown activities without NASA TV launch commentary, will be carried on 321-867-7135. Launch also will be available on local amateur VHF radio frequency 146.940 MHz heard within Brevard County on the Space Coast.

NASA Web Prelaunch and Launch Coverage

Prelaunch and launch coverage of the SpaceX CRS-18 flight will be available on the NASA website. Coverage will include live streaming and blog updates beginning at 5:45 p.m. as the countdown milestones occur. On-demand streaming video and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff. For questions about countdown coverage, contact the newsroom at 321-867-2468. You can follow countdown coverage on our launch blog at http://blogs.nasa.gov/spacex.

Learn more about the SpaceX CRS-18 mission by going to the mission home page at:

https://www.nasa.gov/spacex

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Joshua Finch
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov
Mary Maclaughlin
Kennedy Space Center, FL
321-867-2468
mary.maclaughlin@nasa.gov