#spx11

T-4 hours - (1:55pm EDT June 1)

First reflown Dragon arrives at LC-39A ahead of pad’s 100th launch.

Gearing up for their next space station resupply mission, SpaceX rolled the CRS-11 Dragon spacecraft to LC-39A earlier this morning, June 1. 

While the Falcon 9 rocket for this mission is making its first trip to space, the Dragon capsule atop the vehicle will be making its second. CRS-11 marks the first time SpaceX has reused one of the pressure vessels from Dragon, installing a new heat shield and avionics systems while keeping the structural hull of the capsule.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 with the CRS-11 Dragon spacecraft is brought to a vertical position atop LC-39A, June 1, 2017. The Dragon for this mission previously flew on the CRS-4 mission in 2014 and SpaceX has been working since its return to Earth to prepare the capsule for its reflight. Not only will the capsule be reused but the rocket will also, landing at LZ-1 eight minutes after launch. Over 6,000 pounds of cargo will be delivered to the ISS, and Dragon is expected to arrive early Saturday morning, June 4. 

CRS-11 also marks the 100th launch from LC-39A since the pad was first activated in 1966 as part of the Apollo moon program. Prior to today’s launch, LC-39A has supported 12 Saturn 5 launches, 82 Space Shuttle missions, and five Falcon 9 launches. Liftoff of CRS-11 is scheduled for 5:55pm EDT June 1. Landing of the Falcon 9′s first stage is slated for around 6:03pm EDT.  Watch launch and landing LIVE via SpaceX’s webcast below or at the link here.

T-15 minutes - Dragon packed with cargo prepares for launch.

Carrying over 5,880 pounds of cargo to the International Space Station, SpaceX’s eleventh cargo resupply mission is set to lift off at 5:07pm EDT. While 3,670 pounds of cargo is located in the pressurised Dragon capsule itself, another 2,210 pounds will be carried in the spacecraft’s unpressurized trunk.  Three experiments are riding to the station in the trunk - the Roll Out Solar Array (ROSA), Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER), and the Multi-User System for Earth Sensing (MUSES). Developed in part by the U.S. Air Force and NASA, the Roll Out Solar Array will test new technologies for solar arrays that roll up in a cylinder instead of folding like conventional methods. If successful, future spacecraft will be able to use the stronger and larger solar arrays at greater distances from the sun. NICER will provide precise measurements from neutron stars and other cosmic objects containing ultra-dense material and will also perform the first in-space test of using pulsars as celestial navigation aides.

MUSES is an Earth imaging platform containing multiple cameras and instruments operated by a variety of different commercial entities. The instruments can be swapped out by the station’s robotic arm as usage determines. CRS-11 is scheduled to launch from Kennedy Space Center’s LC-39A at 5:07pm EDT. Watch the launch LIVE by clicking HERE or embedded in the player below.

(via Whit Taylor on Twitter: "Thanks for the shout out. Last year was challenging, but I’m still here with the rest of the 11 doing what we think is right. Our gofundme is still up too. #defendthe11 https://t.co/LR4pDmDwc5")

NJ native Whit Taylor was mentioned in Comics Beat’s 2018 “Creator Survey” results (http://www.comicsbeat.com/and-the-comics-industry-persons-of-the-year-are-stan-lee-and-olivia-jaimes/)  in reference to last year’s defamation lawsuit brought against the 11 members of the independent comics community. The gofundme campaign to cover the groups legal costs can be found here:

https://t.co/X0OvC8lAUv