LIVESTREAM: SpaceX’s CRS-19 mission with new Falcon 9 core, 2x flown Cargo Dragon capsule

SpaceX will aim to send a Dragon cargo capsule to the International Space Station aboard its 19th Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-19) contract mission for NASA. Currently, NASA and SpaceX are targeting a 12:51 pm EST launch time this Wednesday afternoon, December 4th from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in FL.

The mission will feature a previously flown Dragon capsule (C106) that has visited the ISS not once, but twice. It previously completed SpaceX’s fourth and eleventh Commercial Resupply contract missions to the ISS in 2014 and 2017 respectively. The CRS-19 mission is only the second mission to feature a twice flown Dragon capsule to visit for a third time. It will join the only thrice flown C108 Dragon capsule that recently completed the CRS-18 mission this past July.

The C106 Dragon capsule is currently filled with over 5,700lbs of cargo and supplies including more than 250 science investigations and technology demonstrations. Investigations include malting barley seeds while in a microgravity environment and Rodent Research-19 to investigate methods of preventing bone and muscle loss.

Along with a recycled Dragon capsule, the CRS-19 mission will feature a freshly minted Falcon 9 core (B1059.1). This is notable as re-flown Falcon 9 boosters have almost become the norm for SpaceX launches. B1059.1 is the first fresh Falcon 9 core to be flown since the STP-2 Falcon Heavy in June of 2019. The booster is expected to return for landing aboard the autonomous spaceport droneship Of Course I Still Love You.

SpaceX and NASA will both provide webcast of today’s mission. The SpaceX webcast will go live about 15 minutes prior to today’s launch time of 12:51pm EST provided below.

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