Media accreditation is open for the next launch to bring NASA science research, supplies and equipment to the International Space Station. This launch will be the 21st Northrop Grumman commercial resupply mission to the orbital laboratory for the agency and will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
NASA, Northrop Grumman and SpaceX aim to launch the Cygnus spacecraft from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida in early August.
After launch, the Cygnus space station’s Canadarm2 will latch on and the spacecraft will dock with the Earth-facing port of the Unity module to offload cargo.
Accreditation for prelaunch and launch activities is open to U.S. media. The application deadline for U.S. citizens is 11:59 p.m. EDT, Friday, July 19. All accreditation applications must be submitted online at:
https://media.ksc.nasa.gov
Accredited media will receive a confirmation email upon approval. NASA’s media accreditation policy is available online. For questions about accreditation or to request special logistical support, email: ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov. For other questions, contact NASA’s Kennedy Space Center newsroom at: 321-867-2468.
For information about Spanish language coverage at Kennedy Espacial Center or if you would like a Spanish speaking attorney, please contact Antonia Jaramillo or Messod Bendayan: antonia.jaramillobotero@nasa.gov O messod.c.bendayan@nasa.gov.
Each resupply mission to the station provides scientific research in the fields of biology and biotechnology, Earth and space sciences, physical sciences, and technology development and demonstration. Cargo resupply from U.S. companies creates a national capacity to deliver scientific research to the space station, greatly enhancing NASA’s ability to conduct novel research aboard humanity’s laboratory in space.
In addition to food, supplies and equipment for the crew, Cygnus will deliver research, including supplies for a new STEM demonstration and several test articles to observe water flow in microgravity. Other research on board will include vascularized liver tissue and a bioreactor to demonstrate blood and immune stem cell production. Researchers will learn more about biomanufacturing in microgravity to create higher quality treatments for people on Earth.
NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative is also sending two CubeSats to the space lab: CySat-1 from Iowa State University and DORA from Arizona State University. Together they form ELaNa 52 (Educational Launch of Nanosatellites).
Crews have occupied the space station continuously since November 2000. In that time, 280 people from 21 countries have visited the orbital outpost. The space station is a stepping stone to NASA’s next great leap in exploration, including future missions to the moon under Artemis and eventually human exploration of Mars.
For more information about NASA’s commercial resupply missions, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/station
-end-
Josh Finch / Claire O’Shea
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov / claire.a.o’shea@nasa.gov
Stephanie Plucinsky / Steven Siceloff / Danielle Sempsrott
Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
321-876-2468
stephanie.n.plucinsky@nasa.gov / steven.p.siceloff@nasa.gov / danielle.c.sempsrott@nasa.gov
Sandra Jones
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov
Ellen Click
Northrop Grumman, Swan
703-402-4404
ellen.klicka@ngc.com