SpaceX is launching the 18th resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
The booster is a new Block 5 on its second flight and will return back to land.
The cargo mission to the ISS will launch from SLC 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
An important payload will be the 3rd International Docking Adapter (IDA). It will be carried in the unpressurized trunk of Dragon.
Currently, arriving ships are being birthed to the ISS. That means they arrive on station at a safe distance and the grappling arm moves them to the port.
The IDA will enable autonomous docking for future ships - like the new Dragon capsule from SpaceX or the new Starliner built by Boeing.
The Sojus capsule is already docking to the ISS.
The first IDA was lost on CRS-7.
Launch window opens at 20:24 UTC (July 24th 2019).
You can watch the live stream here approximately 15 minutes before lift off.
Background information about previous launches at Wikipedia
When: 20:24 UTC.
Check your local time at:
https://www.timeanddate.com
@remind-me on 24th July 2019 20:00
