Tomorrow’s Launch from Cape Canaveral Would Set the Stage for Historic Test Flight

First Ever Attempt by a Private Company to Send a Spacecraft to the International Space Station

Hawthorne, CA – Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 22nd, at 3:44 AM Eastern, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) will attempt to launch a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon spacecraft to orbit in an exciting start to the mission that will make SpaceX the first commercial company in history to try to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station.

Sending a spacecraft to the space station has only ever been accomplished by four entities – the United States, Russia, Japan and the European Union.

Saturday’s launch was aborted when the flight computer detected slightly high pressure in the engine 5 combustion chamber. During rigorous inspections of the engine, SpaceX engineers discovered a faulty check valve on the Merlin engine. The failed valve was replaced on Saturday and after thorough analysis the vehicle has been cleared for launch.

SpaceX will webcast the launch live at www.SpaceX.com starting at 3:00 AM Eastern.

After launch, NASA will host a press conference that will include SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and President Gwynne Shotwell. It will be live on NASA TV or webcast at www.NASA.gov/ntv.

Detailed information on the mission is available in the SpaceX launch press kit: http://www.spacex.com/downloads/COTS-2-Press-Kit-5-14-12.pdf

Throughout the mission high-resolution photos will be posted at spacexlaunch.zenfolio.com and broadcast quality videos will be posted at vimeo.com/spacexlaunch.

Mission Highlights: During the mission, Dragon must perform a series of complex tasks, each presenting significant technical challenges (dates subject to change):

– May 22/Launch Day: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launches a Dragon spacecraft into orbit from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
– May 23: Dragon orbits Earth as it travels toward the International Space Station.
– May 24: Dragon’s sensors and flight systems are subject to a series of complicated tests to determine if the vehicle is ready to berth with the space station; these tests include maneuvers and systems checks that see the vehicle come within 1.5 miles of the station.
– May 25: NASA decides if Dragon is allowed to attempt to berth with the station. If so, Dragon approaches; it is captured by station’s robotic arm and attached to the station. This requires extreme precision as both Dragon and station orbit the earth every 90 minutes.
– May 26 – 31: Astronauts open Dragon’s hatch, unload supplies and fill Dragon with return cargo.
– May 31: Dragon is detached from the station and returns to Earth, landing in the Pacific, hundreds of miles west of Southern California.

This is SpaceX’s second demonstration flight under a 2006 Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) agreement with NASA to develop the capability to carry cargo to and from the International Space Station. The purpose of the flight is to provide NASA and SpaceX with flight data needed to ensure successful future missions to the space station. Demonstration launches are conducted to determine potential issues so that they might be addressed and – by their very nature – carry a significant risk. If any aspect of the mission is not successful, SpaceX will learn from the experience and try again.

About SpaceX

SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft. With a diverse manifest of 40 launches to deliver commercial and government satellites to orbit, SpaceX is the world’s fastest growing launch services provider. In 2010, SpaceX became the first commercial company in history to put a spacecraft into orbit and return it safely to Earth. With the retirement of the space shuttle, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft will soon carry cargo, and one day astronauts, to and from the Space Station for NASA. Founded in 2002 by Elon Musk, SpaceX is a private company owned by management and employees, with minority investments from Founders Fund, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, and Valor Equity Partners. The company has over 1,800 employees in California, Texas, Washington, D.C., and Florida. For more information, visit www.SpaceX.com.

Kirstin Brost Grantham | Communications Director | SpaceX | 202-649-2716

More on the NASA/SpaceX Launch & Mission to the Space Station

Launch Press Kit: http://www.spacex.com/downloads/COTS-2-Press-Kit-5-14-12.pdf
High-Resolution Photos: spacexlaunch.zenfolio.com
Download Broadcast Quality Videos: vimeo.com/spacexlaunch

Launch Updates

Twitter: http://twitter.com/spacex
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SpaceX