Editor’s note: NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, for the In-Flight Abort Test of the Crew Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, pending U.S. Air Force Eastern Range approval. The new date allows for additional time for spacecraft processing. The demonstration of Crew Dragon’s in-flight launch escape system is part of NASA’s Commerical Crew Program and is one of the final major tests for the company before NASA astronauts will fly aboard the spacecraft.
Media accreditation is open for SpaceX’s In-Flight Abort Test as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The flight test of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft is targeted for no earlier than December – an exact test date still is to be determined — from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
This will be among the final major tests for the company before NASA astronauts will fly aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft. As part of the test, SpaceX will configure the spacecraft to trigger a launch escape shortly after liftoff and demonstrate Crew Dragon’s capability to safely separate from the rocket in the unlikely event of an in-flight emergency. The demonstration also will provide valuable data toward NASA certifying SpaceX’s crew transportation system for carrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
Media accreditation deadlines are as follows:
- International media without U.S. citizenship must apply by 4 p.m. EST Friday, Dec. 6, for access to Kennedy media activities.
- U.S. media must apply by 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13.
All accreditation requests should be submitted online at:
For questions about accreditation, please email ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov. For other questions, contact Kennedy’s newsroom at 321-867-2468.
Reporters with special logistics requests for Kennedy, such as space for satellite trucks, trailers, tents, electrical connections, or work spaces, must contact Tiffany Fairley at tiffany.l.fairley@nasa.gov by Dec. 13.
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is working with the American aerospace industry through a public-private partnership to launch astronauts on American rockets and spacecraft from American soil for the first time since 2011. The goal of the program is safe, reliable and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station, which could allow for additional research time and increase the opportunity for discovery aboard humanity’s testbed for exploration. The space station remains the springboard to NASA’s next great leap in exploration, including future missions to the Moon and eventually to Mars.
For test coverage, NASA’s launch blog, and more information about the test, visit:
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Joshua Finch / Stephanie Schierholz
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov / stephanie.schierholz@nasa.gov
Marie Lewis
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
marie.g.lewis@nasa.gov
Dan Huot / Kyle Herring
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
daniel.g.huot@nasa.gov / kyle.j.herring@nasa.gov