NASA and SpaceX target 8:44 p.m. EDT
(NASA) — NASA and SpaceX are targeting 8:44 p.m. EDT on Thursday, July 14 to kick off the agency’s next survey to monitor climate change at the International Space Station.
The mission, NASA’s Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT), will fly aboard SpaceX’s 25th commercial resupply services mission to the orbiting laboratory.
SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to deliver new scientific investigation, supplies and equipment to the international crew, including a new research investigation into the climate.
Live coverage will air on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website, with pre-launch events beginning Wednesday, July 13.
Dragon will carry more than 5,800 pounds of cargo, including a variety of NASA surveys like EMIT, which will identify the composition of mineral dust from arid regions of Earth and analyze dust carried into the atmosphere from deserts to see what effects it is having on the planet, advancing NASA data contributions to monitoring climate change.
Other investigations include studying immune cell aging and the potential to reverse these effects during post-flight 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.
Arrival at the station is expected around 11:20 a.m. EDT Saturday, July 16.
Dragon will autonomously dock to the forward portion of the station’s Harmony module, with NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Bob Hines monitoring operations from the station.
The spacecraft is expected to spend about a month tethered to the orbiting outpost before returning to Earth with research and return cargo, splashing down off the coast of Florida.
The media accreditation deadline for in-person coverage of this launch has passed. More information on media accreditation is available by email: ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov.
NASA’s Media Accreditation Policy for On-Site and Virtual Activities is available online. The agency will provide further details to these accredited media, including COVID-19 safety protocols.
Full coverage for this mission is as follows (all times Eastern). Coverage is subject to change based on real-time operational activities. Follow the International Space Station blog for updates.
Wednesday July 13
2 p.m. – Climate Conversation on NASA TV with the following participants:
■ Kate Calvin, NASA Chief Scientist and Climate Advisor
■ Heidi Parris, Associate Scientist, International Space Station Program, NASA
■ Mike Roberts, Chief Scientist, ISS National Lab
■ Rob Green, JPL Principal Investigator and EMIT Principal Investigator
■ Paula do Vale Pereira, BeaverCube, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
A limited number of seats inside Kennedy’s auditorium will be available for on-site reporters on a first-come, first-served basis.
Additional journalists wishing to participate can log in.
To obtain the call-in number and access code, please contact the Kennedy Newsroom no later than 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 13 at: ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov.
8:00 p.m. – Pre-launch media conference call (no sooner than one hour after the end of the launch readiness review) with the following participants:
■ Dana Weigel, Deputy Program Manager, International Space Station Program, NASA
■ Heidi Parris, Associate Scientist, International Space Station Program, NASA
SpaceX representative
■ Launch Weather Officer Representative, 45th Weather Squadron Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
■ The conference call will be broadcast live at https://www.nasa.gov/live.
Media may ask questions by telephone only. To obtain the call-in number and access code, please contact the Kennedy Newsroom no later than 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 13 at: ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov.
Thursday July 14
■ 8:15 p.m. – Start of NASA TV launch coverage
■ 8:44 p.m. – Launch
■ 9:30 p.m. – Post-launch press conference call
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