Media accreditation is now available for SpaceX's 29th commercial resupply mission destined for the International Space Station (ISS).

The SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft is scheduled to launch atop the Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than Wednesday, November 1, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Media activities leading up to the launch and the launch itself will occur at NASA Kennedy, and attendance is open to U.S. citizens. The application deadline for U.S. media is 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, October 18.

All requests for accreditation should be submitted through the online portal:

Upon approval, credentialed media will receive a confirmation email. Further details about NASA's media accreditation policy can be found here. For inquiries related to accreditation or requests for special logistical arrangements, please contact ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov. For other inquiries, please reach out to Kennedy's newsroom at 321-867-2468.

SpaceX's Dragon cargo spacecraft is set to transport an array of new science experiments, food, provisions, and equipment to the international crew aboard the ISS. Among the research initiatives is a project aiming to understand the interactions between Earth's weather systems and space, as well as laser communication experiments.

NASA's Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) will investigate atmospheric gravity waves, which are potent waves generated by Earth's weather disturbances such as intense thunderstorms or brewing hurricanes. This research seeks to comprehend the transfer of energy through Earth's upper atmosphere and space. Another experiment, known as the Integrated Laser Communications Relay Demonstration Low-Earth-Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal (ILLUMA-T), will test high-data-rate laser communications from the space station to Earth. This marks the completion of NASA's first two-way, end-to-end laser relay system, connecting it with the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration launched in December 2021.

Additional experiments aboard this resupply mission include the European Space Agency's (ESA) Aquamembrane-3, which will explore water filtration using natural proteins for recycling and recovery, and Plant Habitat-06, evaluating the impact of spaceflight on plant defense responses using various genotypes of tomato.

The involvement of U.S. companies in commercial resupply missions significantly enhances NASA's capacity to conduct a broader range of investigations on the orbiting laboratory. These experiments yield new technologies, medical advancements, and products that enhance life on Earth. In addition to NASA, other U.S. government agencies, private industries, academic institutions, and research organizations can conduct microgravity research through NASA's collaboration with the International Space Station National Laboratory.

The International Space Station has maintained continuous human presence since November 2000, hosting 273 individuals and numerous international and commercial spacecraft during that time. It continues to serve as a launchpad for NASA's future exploration endeavors, including missions to the Moon under Artemis, and ultimately, human missions to Mars.

Source:prnewswire.com