Missions & Launches

Novel research investigations, technology demonstrations, science projects, and much more are slated to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) throughout each calendar year. Learn about the commercial resupply missions and the ISS National Laboratory payloads onboard.

As a Falcon 9 rocket stands ready for liftoff at the Kennedy Space Centers Launch Complex 39A. The rocket will boost a Dragon resupply spacecraft to the International Space Station. Liftoff is scheduled for 5:55 p.m. EDT. On its 11th commercial resupply services mission to the space station, Dragon will bring up 6,000 pounds of supplies, such as the Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer, or NICER, instrument to study the extraordinary physics of neutron stars.

SpaceX CRS-11

Mission: SpaceX CRS-11

Launch date: Saturday, June 3, 2017 at 5:07 p.m. EDT

Location: Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida

This mission will showcase the breadth of research possible through the ISS National Lab, as experiments range from the life and physical sciences, Earth observation and remote sensing, and a variety of student-led investigations.

Liftoff of the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with the Orbital ATK Cygnus module carrying more than 7,600 pounds of science experiments and crew supplies bound for the International Space Station!

Orbital ATK CRS-7

Mission: Orbital ATK CRS-7

Launch date: Monday, April 18, 2017 at 11:11 a.m. EDT

Location: Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

The ISS U.S. National Laboratory is chartered to facilitate research in the microgravity environment that benefits life on Earth and is leading the effort in partnership with NASA, industry, other government organizations, and academia to manage and promote the best use of the ISS National Lab.

At Cape Canaveral Air Force Stations Space Launch Complex 41, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with a single engine Centaur upper stage stands ready to boost an Orbital ATK Cygnus spacecraft on a resupply mission to the International Space Station. Science payloads include the second generation of a portable onboard printer to demonstrate three dimensional printing, an instrument for first space based observations of the chemical composition of meteors entering Earths atmosphere and an experiment to study how fires burn in microgravity.

Orbital ATK CRS-6

Mission: Orbital ATK CRS-6

Launch date: Wednesday, March 23, 2017 at 11:05 p.m. EDT

Location: Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

SpaceXs Dragon cargo craft launched from Launch Complex 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This was the first commercial launch from Kennedys historic pad.

SpaceX CRS-10

Mission: SpaceX CRS-10

Launch date: Sunday, February 19, 2017 at 9:39 a.m. EDT

Location: Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida

The SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle is slated to launch its 10^th cargo resupply mission to the ISS no earlier than February 18, 2017 from Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39A, with its Dragon spacecraft carrying more than 35 separate ISS U.S. National Laboratory sponsored investigations.

Antares Rocket With Cygnus Spacecraft at the Launch Pad The Orbital ATK Antares rocket, with the Cygnus spacecraft onboard, is seen on launch Pad 0A, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016 at NASAs Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Orbital ATKs sixth contracted cargo resupply mission with NASA to the International Space Station will deliver over 5,100 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and hardware.

Orbital ATK CRS-5

Mission: Orbital ATK CRS-5

Launch date: Monday, October 17, 2016 at 7:45 p.m. EDT

Location: Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Pad OA at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station carrying the Dragon resupply spacecraft on SpaceX CRS 9, the companys ninth commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station. Liftoff was at 12:45 a.m. EDT.

SpaceX CRS-9

Mission: SpaceX CRS-9

Launch date: Monday, July 18, 2016 at 12:45 a.m. EDT

Location: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is loaded with about 5,000 pounds of experiments and materials for the ISS including over 20 separate ISS National Lab payloads encompassing over 40 investigations in a variety of scientific disciplines to be conducted on the orbiting laboratory in the coming months.

SpaceX CRS-8

Mission: SpaceX CRS-8

Launch date: Friday, April 8, 2016 at 4:43 p.m. EDT

Location: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

The SpaceX Dragon capsule is targeted to launch at 4:43 p.m. Friday, April 8 on a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station carrying crew supplies, scientific research and hardware to the orbital laboratory to support the Expedition 47 and 48 crews.

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket has arrived on Cape Canaveral Air Force Stations Space Launch Complex 41 adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean, ready to boost an enhanced Orbital ATK Cygnus spacecraft on a resupply mission to the International Space Station. Science payloads aboard the Cygnus include a new life science facility that will support studies on cell cultures, bacteria, and other microorganisms. Also aboard is a microsatellite deployer and the first NanoRacks microsatellite to be deployed from the space station.

Orbital ATK CRS-4

Mission: Orbital ATK CRS-4

Launch date: Sunday, December 6, 2015 at 4:44 p.m. EDT

Location: Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft is set to lift off December 3 at 5:55 p.m., carrying more than 7,000 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory to support dozens of approximately 250 science and research investigations that will occur during Expeditions 45 and 46.

April 13, 2015 The countdown is underway at Cape Canaveral Air Force Stations Space Launch Complex 40 to launch a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. On its sixth commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station, Dragon will deliver 4,300 pounds of scientific experiments, technology demonstrations and supplies to support science and research investigations.

SpaceX CRS-6

Mission: SpaceX CRS-6

Launch date: Saturday, April 14, 2015 at 4:10 p.m. EDT

Location: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft launched from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, for their fifth official Commercial Resupply mission to the orbiting lab on Saturday, January 10 at 4:47am EST.

SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft launched from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, for their fifth official Commercial Resupply (CRS) mission to the orbiting lab on Saturday, January 10 at 4:47am EST. Dragon returned to Earth four and a half weeks later with a parachute assisted splashdown off the coast of southern California. Dragon is the only operational spacecraft capable of returning a significant amount of supplies back to Earth, including experiments.

SpaceX CRS-5

Mission: SpaceX CRS-5

Launch date: Saturday, January 10, 2015 at 4:47 a.m. EDT

Location: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft launched from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, for their fifth official Commercial Resupply mission to the orbiting lab on Saturday, January 10 at 4:47am EST.

SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft launched from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, for their fourth official Commercial Resupply (CRS) mission to the orbiting lab on Sunday, September 21 at 1:52am EDT. Dragon returned to Earth with a parachute assisted splashdown off the coast of southern California on October 25. Dragon is the only operational spacecraft capable of returning a significant amount of supplies back to Earth, including experiments.

SpaceX CRS-4

Mission: SpaceX CRS-4

Launch date: Monday, September 21, 2014 at 1:52 a.m. EDT

Location: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

SpaceX is targeting Sept. 19 at 2:38:44 a.m. EST for the launch of its next cargo mission to the ISS. The Dragon capsule will carry about 5,000 pounds of experiments, equipment and supplies to the orbiting laboratory.

SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft launched from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, for their third official Commercial Resupply (CRS) mission to the orbiting lab on April 18, 2014. Dragon returned to Earth with a parachute assisted splashdown off the coast of southern California on May 14, 2014. Dragon is the only operational spacecraft capable of returning a significant amount of supplies back to Earth, including experiments.

SpaceX CRS-3

Mission: SpaceX CRS-3

Launch date: April 18, 2014 at 3:25 p.m. EDT

Location: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

SpaceX will launch the next cargo mission to the ISS on Monday, April 14 at 4:58 p.m. EDT. The Falcon 9 rocket will lift off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station carrying a Dragon spacecraft loaded 5,000 pounds of experiments, crew supplies and other cargo.