Full Coverage Schedule for SpaceX’s Falcon 9/Dragon Launch
Artists conception of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft in orbit
SPACEX AND NASA SCHEDULE UPDATES
Liftoff of the first SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon demonstration launch for NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program could occur as early as December 7th, with December 8th and 9th as backup days, from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The launch window for all three days extends from 9:00 a.m. to 12:22 p.m. EST. The Dragon capsule is expected to orbit the Earth at speeds greater than 17,000 miles per hour, reenter the Earth’s atmosphere, and land in the Pacific Ocean roughly 3 1/2 hours later.
The COTS Demo 1 launch will be webcast at www.spacex.com. The webcast will begin approximately 45 minutes prior to the opening of the daily launch window, at 8:15 a.m. EST / 5:15 a.m. PST / 13:15 UTC. During the webcast, SpaceX hosts will provide information specific to the flight, an overview of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft and commentary on the launch and flight sequences.
NASA TV live coverage will begin at the conclusion of the built-in hold at T-5 minutes and counting. For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit:
Prelaunch and launch day coverage of the COTS 1 Falcon 9 mission will be available on the NASA website at:
Coverage will include live streaming and text updates of the final five minutes of the countdown. On-demand streaming video, podcast and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff. To access these features, go to NASA’s COTS website at:
A post mission press conference will be held one to two hours after splashdown of the Dragon spacecraft at the press site at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Participants will include:
- Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX President
- Phil McAlister, NASA Commercial Space Flight Development Acting Director
- Alan Lindenmoyer, NASA Commercial Crew and Cargo Program Manager.
