NASA, Northrop Grumman, and SpaceX have announced that they are targeting January 29th for the 20th resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch is scheduled for 12:29 p.m. EST and will deliver science investigations, supplies, and equipment to the ISS. This mission marks an important milestone in the partnership between NASA and its commercial partners.
The Cygnus cargo spacecraft, carrying over 8,200 pounds of supplies, will be launched into space using the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The launch will take place at the Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The spacecraft is expected to arrive at the ISS on January 31st.
NASA has planned extensive coverage of the mission, with live launch coverage beginning at 12:15 p.m. EST. The coverage will be available on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. Additionally, prelaunch events will start on January 26th. Audio of the International Space Station National Lab science webinar and the prelaunch news conference will be streamed on NASA’s website.
During the mission, NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli will capture the Cygnus spacecraft using the station’s robotic arm, with NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara serving as a backup. Once captured, the spacecraft will be installed on the Unity module’s Earth-facing port.
One of the highlights of this mission is the space station research facilitated by the delivery aboard the Cygnus spacecraft. Media outlets interested in speaking to a subject matter expert about the science aboard can contact Sandra Jones at [email protected].
The Cygnus spacecraft is scheduled to remain at the ISS until May, after which it will safely burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere. This particular spacecraft is named the S.S. Patricia “Patty” Hilliard Robertson, in honor of the former NASA astronaut.
For those interested in following the mission, NASA has provided a detailed schedule of events. On January 26th, there will be a science webinar hosted by the International Space Station National Lab, featuring various participants from NASA and other organizations. Media must register for the webinar by January 26th.
On the same day, there will also be a prelaunch media teleconference with participants from NASA, SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s 45th Weather Squadron. Media outlets wishing to participate in the teleconference must request dial-in information by January 26th.
The launch coverage will begin on January 29th at 12:15 p.m., followed by the launch itself at 12:29 p.m. On January 31st, NASA will provide coverage of the rendezvous and capture of the Cygnus spacecraft, starting at 2 a.m. The capture will be performed by NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli using the station’s robotic arm. Installation operations coverage will begin at 5 a.m.
For those who want to watch the launch virtually, NASA is offering the opportunity to register as virtual guests. Virtual guests will receive curated resources, schedule changes, and mission-specific information via email. After each activity, virtual guests will also receive a mission-specific collectible stamp for their virtual guest passport.
To stay updated on the mission, viewers can follow NASA, NASAKennedy, NASASocial, Space_Station, ISS_Research, and ISS_CASIS on Twitter. They can also follow NASA, NASAKennedy, ISS, and ISS National Lab on Facebook, as well as NASA, NASAKennedy, ISS, and ISSNationalLab on Instagram.
This resupply mission is an important step in advancing scientific research and exploration in space. It showcases the collaboration between NASA and its commercial partners, highlighting the progress made in space technology and exploration. As we look forward to the launch on January 29th, the world eagerly awaits the scientific discoveries and advancements that will result from this mission.