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NASA Invites Public to Watch Cargo Launch

Virtual coverage plays all weekend for upcoming NASA cargo launch.

On Saturday, NASA and SpaceX will launch SpaceX’s Dragon capsule on a resupply mission to the International Space Station.

The launch will lift off from Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA will live stream the launch on NASA Television, the NASA app, and their website starting at about 3:15 a.m. ET.

The Delivery

Among the investigations Dragon will deliver is one that will determine if metabolites from grape skins and seeds used in winemaking could help prevent and treat osteoporosis.

A new robotic arm is scheduled for demonstration, as well. If successful, it could reveal potential uses on Earth, including in disaster relief.

Another experiment will test an implantable, remote-controlled drug delivery system. The experiment will utilize a new research facility aboard the orbiting laboratory.

Several Girl Scouts’ experiments also will use this new facility to study:

  • Plants
  • Ants
  • Brine shrimp in microgravity.

The Journey

About 12 minutes after launch, Dragon will separate from the Falcon 9 rocket’s second stage and begin a carefully choreographed series of thruster firings to reach the space station. Arrival to the station is set for Sunday.

Dragon will dock autonomously to the forward-facing port of the station’s Harmony module. Expedition 65 Flight Engineers Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur of NASA will monitor operations.

The spacecraft is expected to spend about a month attached to the orbiting outpost before it returns to Earth off the coast of Florida with research and return cargo.

The schedule for the launch is:

Friday, Aug. 17

9:30 to 11 a.m.: Media will speak with scientists in their labs.

12 p.m.: NASA’s pre launch news conference from Kennedy Space Center with representatives from ISS, SpaceX, and U.S. Space Force. This conference is dial-in only.

Saturday, Aug. 29

3:15 a.m.: NASA TV coverage begins

3:37 a.m.: Launch commences

Sunday, Aug. 29

9:30 a.m.: NASA coverage of Dragon docking at the space station begins.

11 a.m.: Docking

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