Media accreditation is open for launch of the next commercial resupply services mission to deliver NASA science investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station.
NASA and Northrop Grumman are targeting liftoff of the company’s Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft, named the S.S. Laurel Clark, no earlier than 8:30 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Aug. 1, from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Pad 0A a t the agency’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
Both U.S. and international media may apply for credentials to cover the prelaunch and launch activities at Wallops. The application deadline for U.S. citizens is 3 p.m., Wednesday, July 26. International media without U.S. citizenship must apply by 3 p.m., Tuesday, July 18. Media must RSVP to Amy Barra at: amy.l.barra@nasa.gov. NASA’s media accreditation media accreditation policy is available online.
The in-person, multi-day media event includes an opportunity to tour the launch pad, capture video and photos using remote camera setups, and experience the launch from a media viewing area.
Following launch, Cygnus will be grappled by the space station’s Canadarm2 no earlier than Friday, Aug. 4, and berthed to the Unity module’s Earth-facing port for cargo unloading by the Expedition 69 crew.
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.
Highlights of space station research aboard this Cygnus are:
- The final iteration of a series of flammability experiments
- A new potable water dispenser that provides hot water and improved sanitization
- Neural cells that will be cultured into 3D cell models for gene therapy testing
- A probe that measures plasma contents of the upper atmosphere
- A memory card that contains creative works from students around the world
Cargo resupply from U.S. companies ensures a national capability to deliver critical scientific research to the space station, significantly increasing NASA’s ability to conduct new investigations aboard humanity’s laboratory in space.
Learn more about NASA’s Northrop Grumman commercial resupply missions at:
