Next SpaceX Commercial Cargo Launch Now No Earlier Than July 18, US Media Accreditation Remains Open

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Jun 21, 2016, 06:19 ET

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The next SpaceX commercial cargo resupply services mission for NASA to the International Space Station now is targeted for launch no earlier than 12:45 a.m. EDT Monday, July 18.

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 almost 4,900 pounds of 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. Accreditation for international media is closed. The deadline for U.S. citizens to apply for media access to Kennedy is 5 p.m. Friday, July 8.

All media accreditation requests must be submitted online at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

All media representatives must present two forms of unexpired legal, government identification to access Kennedy. One form must include a photo, such as a passport or driver's license. Questions about accreditation should be directed to Jennifer Horner at [email protected] or 321-867-6598. For additional information, contact the Kennedy newsroom at 321-867-2468.

For launch countdown coverage, NASA's launch blog, and more information about the mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/spacex

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SOURCE NASA