SpaceX Launches CRS-24 to the ISS

Credit: NASA

On Tuesday, December 21 at 5:06am ET (10:06 UTC) SpaceX launched Dragon's twenty-fourth commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station for NASA. Docking will happen on December 22 at around 4:30 am ET. This is the fourth cargo mission for Dragon 2. The 45th Weather Squadron of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Delta 45 predicted a 30% probability of favorable conditions for launch. In the likely event of unfavorable weather, a backup opportunity was available on Wednesday, December 22 at 4:46am ET (9:46 UTC). The Falcon 9 first stage is new and landed on the "Just Read the Instructions" droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. and the Dragon previously flew on CRS-22. This was the 135th Falcon 9 launch, 143rd SpaceX mission, and the 135th orbital attempt of 2021.