NEW YORK: The clock is ticking towards the next launch of a SpaceX cargo vessel to the International Space Station (ISS) hauling critical supplies to the six astronauts and cosmonauts serving aboard, that now includes the first ever ‘One-Year Mission’station crew comprising NASA’s Scott Kelly and Russia’s Mikhail Kornienko.
The mission, dubbed SpaceX CRS-6 (Commercial Resupply Services-6) will also feature the next daring attempt by SpaceX to recover the Falcon 9 booster rocket through a precision guided soft landing onto an ocean-going barge.
SpaceX and NASA are now targeting blastoff of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft for Monday, April 13, just over a week from now, at approximately 4:33 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
NASA Television plans live launch coverage starting at 3:30 p.m.
The launch window is instantaneous, meaning that the rocket must liftoff at the precisely appointed time. And delays due to weather or technical factors will force a scrub.
The backup launch day in case of a 24 hour scrub is Tuesday, April 14, at approximately 4:10 p.m.
Falcon 9 launches have been delayed due to issues with the rockets helium bottles that required investigation.
The Falcon 9 first stage is outfitted with four landing legs and grid fins to enable the landing attempt, which is a secondary objective of SpaceX. Cargo delivery to the station is the overriding primary objective and the entire reason for the mission.
An on time launch on April 13 will result in the Dragon spacecraft rendezvousing with the Earth orbiting outpost Wednesday, April 15 after a two day orbital chase.
