A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will lift off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Saturday at 10:30 a.m. to deliver supplies to the International Space Station. The mission will carry over 5,000 pounds of scientific equipment, food, and hardware for astronauts aboard the orbiting laboratory. This is the third commercial resupply flight for SpaceX under a contract with NASA. The launch window extends through Sunday if weather delays occur.
The rocket will take off from Launch Complex 39A, the same site used for historic Apollo and Space Shuttle missions. SpaceX officials said the payload includes experiments studying bone density loss in microgravity and a new satellite communication system. The mission also carries a small satellite for a university research project.
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center is monitoring the launch closely. Officials said the cargo will support ongoing research and maintenance work on the ISS, which hosts astronauts from the U.S., Japan, and the European Space Agency. The mission is part of a $1.5 billion contract between SpaceX and NASA for 20 resupply flights through 2025.
Local residents near the launch site have been advised to stay indoors during the window. The flight path will pass over the Atlantic Ocean before reaching orbit. SpaceX is expected to broadcast the launch live online. Weather forecasts show a 70% chance of favorable conditions for Saturday’s attempt.
This mission follows SpaceX’s successful launch last month that delivered medical supplies to the ISS. The company has conducted 22 cargo flights to the space station since 2012. Brevard County officials said the launches boost the local economy, supporting over 10,000 jobs in the aerospace sector.