NASA Announces Comprehensive Coverage Plans for Upcoming SpaceX Cargo Mission to International Space Station

NASA and SpaceX have scheduled the launch of the 35th Commercial Resupply Services mission to the International Space Station for 6:33 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, October 13. The Dragon spacecraft, mounted atop a Falcon 9 rocket, will depart from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying over 6,300 pounds of scientific experiments, supplies, and essential equipment.

This critical mission includes delivering the final set of International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays, designed to enhance the station’s power generation capabilities. The cargo also encompasses advanced research hardware, including equipment for manufacturing artificial retinas in microgravity conditions, which could lead to groundbreaking treatments for vision restoration on Earth.

Among the scientific payloads are 3D heart tissue models intended to advance large-scale drug testing methodologies for future long-duration space missions. Additionally, materials to study glass formation in microgravity will be transported, alongside brain organoids that may uncover novel treatment approaches for neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.

Prior to the launch, NASA will conduct a media teleconference on Thursday, October 8, providing insights into the upcoming cargo mission and offering updates regarding the recent splashdown of the SpaceX Crew-12 mission, which concluded the crewed rotation to the space station.

Media participants in the October 8 teleconference will include Bill Spetch, deputy manager of NASA’s Commercial, Low Earth Orbit Program; Dr. Liz Warren, deputy chief scientist at NASA’s International Space Station Office; Lee Echerd, senior mission manager at SpaceX’s Customer Operations and Integration division; and Andreas Mogensen, leader of the Human Exploration Group at the European Space Agency.

To participate in the media teleconference, interested journalists should contact the NASA Johnson Space Center newsroom by noon Eastern time on October 8, either via email at jsccommu@mail.nasa.gov or by phone at 281-483-5111. Questions during the call require dial-in participation at least ten minutes prior to commencement.

Following its launch, the Dragon spacecraft is slated to autonomously dock with the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module around 11 a.m. EDT on Thursday, October 15. The spacecraft will remain berthed at the orbiting laboratory through mid-November before departing for a targeted splashdown off the California coast, bringing time-sensitive research results and cargo back to Earth.

NASA’s live launch and docking coverage will be accessible through multiple streaming platforms, with detailed viewing options available on the official NASA website. The agency’s Kennedy Space Center newsroom serves as the primary point of contact for countdown-specific inquiries, reachable at 321-867-2468.

Members of the public interested in participating in the mission can register for NASA’s Virtual Guest Program, which offers curated resources, real-time notifications about mission developments, and a commemorative stamp for the NASA Virtual Guest Passport upon successful launch completion.

Social media engagement opportunities are available through X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram platforms, using official NASA accounts and mission-specific hashtags to share viewing experiences and follow live updates throughout the campaign.

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Josh Finch / Jimi Russell
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov / james.j.russell@nasa.gov

Steven Siceloff
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-876-2468
steven.p.siceloff@nasa.gov

Sandra Jones / Joseph Zakrzewski
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov / joseph.a.zakrzewskI@nasa.gov

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