SpaceX's CRS-9 Dragon resupply mission to the International Space Station is set to deliver almost 5,000 pounds of science and research to the orbiting laboratory.
SpaceX is targeting the launch of its Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket at 12:45 a.m. EDT (0445 GMT) on Monday (July 18) from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
Ten minutes later, the Dragon will reach its preliminary orbit, deploy its solar arrays and begin a choreographed series of thruster firings to reach the space station.
Following stage separation, the first stage of the Falcon 9 will attempt a propulsive landing at Landing Zone-1 (LZ-1) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
The Dragon will arrive at the station on Wednesday (July 20), where the Canadarm2 robotic arm will be used to capture the spacecraft. Ground commands will be sent from Houston to the arm to then install Dragon on the Earth-facing side of the Harmony module for its month-long stay at the station.
The Dragon's unpressurized cargo includes an international docking adapter, which once installed will enable Boeing's CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft to dock to the station when transporting astronauts under NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
Dragon is scheduled to return to Earth on Aug. 16. About five-and-a-half hours after it leaves the station, it will splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California.