Dec. 6, 2023
MEDIA ADVISORY: M23-146
NASA
Invites Media to Northrop Grumman, SpaceX Space Station Launch
Media accreditation is open for the next launch to deliver NASA science investigations, supplies, and equipment to the
International Space Station. This launch is the 20th Northrop Grumman commercial resupply services mission to the orbital laboratory for the agency.
NASA, Northrop Grumman, and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than Monday, Jan. 29, for a Falcon 9 rocket to launch the
Cygnus spacecraft from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Following launch, the space stationâs Canadarm2 will grapple Cygnus no earlier than Wednesday, Jan. 31, and the spacecraft
will attach to the Unity moduleâs Earth-facing port for cargo unloading by the Expedition 70 crew.
U.S. media may apply for credentials to cover the prelaunch and launch activities. The application deadline for U.S.
citizens is 11:59 p.m., Friday, Jan. 12. All accreditation requests must be submitted online at:
Credentialed media will receive a confirmation email upon approval. NASAâs
media accreditation policy
is available online. For questions about accreditation, or to request special logistical support, email:
ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov. For other questions,
please contact NASAâs Kennedy Space Center newsroom at: 321-867-2468.
Para obtener información sobre cobertura en español en el Centro Espacial Kennedy o si desea solicitor entrevistas
en español, comunÃquese con Antonia Jaramillo o Messod Bendayan a: antonia.jaramillobotero@nasa.gov
o messod.c.bendayan@nasa.gov.
Each resupply mission to the station delivers scientific investigations in the areas of biology and biotechnology, Earth
and space science, physical sciences, and technology development and demonstrations. Cargo resupply from U.S. companies ensures a national capability to deliver scientific research to the space station, significantly increasing NASA's ability to conduct new
investigations aboard humanityâs laboratory in space.
Cygnus also will deliver food, supplies, and equipment to the crew. Research aboard this mission includes the
first surgical robot on the
space station and an orbit re-entry platform
that collects thermal protection systems data. Other investigations aboard include a
3D cartilage cell culture
that maintains healthy cartilage in a lower gravity environment and ESAâs (European Space Agency)
Metal
3D printer, an autonomous semiconductor manufacturing platform.
This spacecraft is named the S.S. Patricia âPattyâ Hilliard Robertson.
Humans have occupied the space station continuously since November 2000. In that time, 273 people from 21 countries have
visited the orbital outpost. The space station is a springboard to NASAâs next great leap in exploration, including future missions to the Moon under Artemis, and ultimately, human exploration of Mars.
Learn more about NASAâs commercial resupply missions at:
https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/commercial-resupply/
Josh Finch / Claire OâShea
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov
/ claire.a.oâshea@nasa.gov
Stephanie Plucinsky / Steven Siceloff
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-876-2468
stephanie.n.plucinsky@nasa.gov /
steven.p.siceloff@nasa.gov
Sandra Jones
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov
Ellen Klicka
Northrop Grumman, Cygnus
703-402-4404
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