NASA Highlights Climate Research on Cargo Launch, Sets Coverage

NASA and SpaceX are targeting 8:44 p.m. EDT (5:44 p.m. PDT) Thursday, July 14, to launch the agency’s next investigation to monitor climate change to the International Space Station. The mission, NASA’s Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT), will fly aboard SpaceX’s 25th commercial resupply services mission to the orbital laboratory.

SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to deliver new science investigations, supplies, and equipment for the international crew, including a new climate research investigation.

Live coverage will air on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website, with prelaunch events starting Wednesday, July 13.

Dragon will carry more than 5,800 pounds of cargo, including a variety of NASA investigations like EMIT, which will identify the composition of mineral dust from Earth’s arid regions and analyze dust carried through the atmosphere from deserts to see what effects it has on the planet, further advancing NASA’s data contributions to monitoring climate change.

Other investigations include studying the aging of immune cells and the potential to reverse those effects during postflight recovery; a CubeSat that will monitor cloud top and ocean surface temperatures, which could help scientists understand Earth’s climate and weather systems; and a student experiment testing a concrete alternative for potential use in future lunar and Martian habitats.

Arrival to the station is scheduled for approximately 11:20 a.m. EDT on Saturday, July 16. Dragon will dock autonomously to the forward-facing port of the station’s Harmony module, with NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Bob Hines monitoring operations from the station.

The spacecraft is expected to spend about a month attached to the orbiting outpost before it returns to Earth with research and return cargo, splashing down off the coast of Florida.

Full coverage of this mission is as follows (all times Eastern). Coverage is subject to change based on real-time operational activities. Follow the International Space Station blog for updates.

Wednesday, July 13

2 p.m. – Climate Conversation on NASA TV with the following participants:

• Kate Calvin, NASA chief scientist and climate advisor
• Heidi Parris, associate scientist, International Space Station Program, NASA
• Mike Roberts, chief scientist, ISS National Lab
• Rob Green, JPL senior research scientist and EMIT principal investigator
• Paula do Vale Pereira, BeaverCube, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

8 p.m. – Prelaunch media teleconference (no earlier than one hour after completion of the Launch Readiness Review) with the following participants:

• Dana Weigel, deputy program manager, International Space Station Program, NASA
• Heidi Parris, associate scientist, International Space Station Program, NASA
• SpaceX representative
• Launch weather officer representative, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s 45th Weather Squadron

The teleconference will stream live at:

https://www.nasa.gov/live

Thursday, July 14

8:15 p.m. – NASA TV launch coverage begins

8:44 p.m. – Launch

9:30 p.m. – Postlaunch media teleconference

• Dina Contella, operations integration manager, International Space Station Program, NASA
• SpaceX representative

The teleconference will livestream on the agency’s website at:

https://www.nasa.gov/live

Saturday, July 16

10 a.m. – NASA TV coverage begins for Dragon docking to space station

11:20 a.m. (approximately) – Docking

NASA TV launch coverage

Live coverage of the launch on NASA TV will begin at 8:15 p.m. Thursday, July 14. For downlink information, schedules, and links to streaming video, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/nasatv

NASA website launch coverage

Launch day coverage of the mission will be available on the NASA website. Coverage will include livestreaming and blog updates beginning no earlier than 8 p.m. Thursday, July 14, as the countdown milestones occur. On-demand streaming video and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff. For questions about countdown coverage, contact the Kennedy newsroom at: 321-867-2468. Follow countdown coverage on our launch blog at:

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacexcrs25/

Attend the launch virtually

Members of the public can register to attend this launch virtually. Registrants will receive mission updates and activities by email. NASA’s virtual guest program for this mission also includes curated launch resources, notifications about related opportunities, and a virtual guest passport stamp following a successful launch.

Watch and engage on social media

Let people know you’re following the mission on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram by using the hashtags #Dragon and #NASASocial. You can also stay connected by following and tagging these accounts:

Twitter: @NASA, @NASAKennedy, @NASASocial, @Space_Station, @ISS_Research, @ISS National Lab,

Facebook: NASA, NASAKennedy, ISS, ISS National Lab

Instagram: @NASA, @NASAKennedy, @ISS, @ISSNationalLab

Learn more about NASA’s SpaceX resupply missions at:

https://www.nasa.gov/spacex

Para obtener información sobre cobertura en español en el Centro Espacial Kennedy o si desea solicitar entrevistas en español, comuníquese con Antonia Jaramillo at: antonia.jaramillobotero@nasa.gov or 321-501-8425.