NASA and SpaceX are targeting 8:44 p.m. EDT Thursday, July 14, to launch the agencys next investigation to monitor climate change to the International Space Station. The mission, NASAs Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT), will fly aboard SpaceXs 25th commercial resupply services mission to the orbital laboratory.
SpaceXs Dragon spacecraft will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASAs 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 agencys 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 Earths aridregions and analyze dust carried through the atmosphere from deserts to seewhat effects it has on theplanet, further advancing NASAs 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 Earths 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 stations 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.
