Updated Coverage for NASA/SpaceX Mission to Station

WASHINGTON -- The SpaceX second demonstration mission for NASA's
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program is under
way, and NASA is updating its coverage of the Dragon spacecraft's
flight to the International Space Station.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon lifted off at 3:44 a.m. EDT
Tuesday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. During the
flight, the Dragon capsule will conduct a series of checkout
procedures to test and prove its systems, including the capability to
rendezvous and berth with the space station.

One of the primary objectives for the flight is a flyby of the space
station at a distance of approximately 1.5 miles to validate the
operation of sensors and flight systems necessary for a safe
rendezvous and approach.

The spacecraft also will demonstrate the ability to abort the
rendezvous. Once Dragon successfully proves these capabilities, it
will be cleared to berth with the space station.

NASA TV MISSION COVERAGE

Thursday, May 24 (Flight Day 3): Live NASA Television coverage from
NASA's Johnson Space Center mission control in Houston as the Dragon
spacecraft performs its flyby of the International Space Station to
test its systems begins at 2:30 a.m. EDT and will continue until the
Dragon passes the vicinity of the station. A news briefing will be
held at 10 a.m. following the activities.

Friday, May 25 (Flight Day 4): Live coverage of the rendezvous and
berthing of the Dragon spacecraft to the station begins at 2 a.m. and
will continue through the capture and berthing of the Dragon to the
station's Harmony node. A news briefing will be held at 1 p.m. after
Dragon is secured to the station.

Saturday, May 26 (Flight Day 5): Live coverage of the hatch opening
and entry of the Dragon spacecraft begins at 5:30 a.m. and will
include a crew news conference at 11:25 a.m.

NASA TV also will provide live coverage of the departure and reentry
of the Dragon spacecraft once a date is determined.

JOHNSON MEDIA ACCREDITATION

Media who currently are credentialed with badges from NASA's Kennedy
Space Center in Florida for launch activities will have their badges
honored at Johnson for the duration of the SpaceX mission. Please
contact the Johnson newsroom for work space information. The deadline
has passed for U.S. and international media wanting access only to
Johnson. For mission information, contact the Johnson newsroom at
281-483-5111 or visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/johnson

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming
video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For up-to-date SpaceX mission information and a schedule of NASA TV
coverage, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/spacex

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