A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kenney Space Center in Florida, the company's 11th commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station. Credits: NASA/Tony Gray

NASA commercial cargo provider SpaceX is targeting its 13th commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station for 1:20 p.m. EST Friday, Dec. 8. Coverage will begin on NASA Television and the agency’s website Thursday, Dec. 7, with two briefings.

Loaded with about 4,800 pounds of research, crew supplies and hardware, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will launch on a Falcon 9 rocket. The payloads include crucial materials to directly support several of the more than 250 science and research investigations to be conducted on the orbiting laboratory during Expeditions 53, 54 and 55.

About 10 minutes after launch, Dragon will reach its preliminary orbit and deploy its solar arrays. A carefully choreographed series of thruster firings are scheduled to allow the spacecraft to rendezvous with the space station. NASA astronauts Mark Vande Hei and Joe Acaba will grapple Dragon using the space station’s robotic arm. It then will be installed on the station’s Harmony module.

Live coverage of the rendezvous and capture will begin at 4:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, on NASA TV, with installation coverage set to begin at 7:30 a.m.

The Dragon spacecraft will spend approximately one month attached to the space station. It will remain until Jan. 6 when the spacecraft will return to Earth with results of earlier experiments, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California.

Media at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida will have the opportunity to participate in special tours and briefings Dec. 7 and 8, as well as view the launch. The deadline for media to apply for accreditation for this launch has passed. For more information about media accreditation, contact Jennifer Horner at 321-867-6598 or jennifer.p.horner@nasa.gov.

Media badges will be issued at the Press Accreditation Office located on State Road 3, Merritt Island.

Please note that RSVPs will be required for the following events:

-L-1 Media Tour
-L-1 Remote Camera Setup

-L-0 Pad Photo Opportunity
-Launch (NASA Causeway or VAB Roof)

When you RSVP please indicate in the subject line your name, affiliation and specific area(s) related to your RSVP. RSVPs must be sent to ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov no later than 4 p.m., Dec. 5.

L-1 Day (Thursday, Dec. 7)

Press Site Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Badging Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Launch Complex 39B Update Tour (10 a.m.)

Media will get an up-close view of the refurbished launch pad, including the newly finished flame trench. Launch Complex 39B is one of many areas being upgraded at Kennedy to accommodate future NASA and commercial launches.

Prelaunch News Conference on NASA TV (11 a.m.)

A prelaunch status briefing will be held at Kennedy’s Press Site TV Auditorium at 11 a.m. and air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website. Media who would like to call in should phone the NASA News Center at 321-867-2468.

Remote Camera Setup (1:30 p.m.)

A limited number of news media will be able to establish sound-activated remote cameras to capture the liftoff from outside the Launch Complex 40 pad perimeter.

“What’s on Board” Science Briefing on NASA TV (3:30 p.m.)

A science, research and technology briefing will air live at 3:30 p.m. on NASA Television and the agency’s website at http://www.nasa.gov/ntv. This briefing is for NASA Social participants and interested media.

L-0 Day (Friday, Dec. 8)

Press Site Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Badging Hours of Operation: 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Pad Photo Opportunity

Media will have the opportunity to photograph the vehicle on the launch pad (3:15 a.m.)

One-on-One Interview Opportunities (10 a.m. – 12 p.m.)

Media will have the opportunity to interview mission experts at the Press Site.

Launch Viewing 

News media wanting to view the launch from either the NASA Causeway or the VAB roof (space is limited) need to arrive to the Press Site by 11:30 a.m.

Post-Launch News Conference (3 p.m.)

A post-launch news conference will occur at about 3 p.m. in Kennedy’s Press Site TV Auditorium and air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website. Media who would like to call in should phone the NASA News Center at 321-867-2468.

NASA TV Launch Coverage

NASA TV live coverage will begin at 12:45 p.m. For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit http://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 day coverage of the SpaceX CRS-13 flight will be available on the NASA website. Coverage will include live streaming and blog updates beginning at 12:45 p.m. as the countdown milestones occur. On-demand streaming video, podcast 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.

Post-Launch News Conference on NASA TV

A post-launch news conference will occur at about 3 p.m. in Kennedy’s Press Site TV Auditorium and air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website at http://www.nasa.gov/ntv. Media who would like to call in should phone the NASA News Center at 321-867-2468.

Learn more about the SpaceX CRS-13 mission by going to the mission home page at:

http://www.nasa.gov/spacex

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Press Contacts

Amanda Griffin
Kennedy Space Center, Florida
321-867-2468
amanda.griffin@nasa.gov

Cheryl Warner
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-2975
cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov

NASA Kennedy Space Center news releases and other information are available automatically by sending an e-mail message with the subject line subscribe to ksc-request@newsletters.nasa.gov.

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