NASA BFG ON FRR FOR SPACEX DEMO-1 LAUNCH, Feb 22, 2019, KSC, 6:00 pm ET (approx) NASA TV

SpaceX will conduct the first test flight of its Crew Dragon/Falcon 9 commercial crew system to take astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS) on March 2, 2019.  This flight, Demo-1, will not carry a crew.

A press briefing will take place on February 22, 2019 at approximately 6:00 pm ET to discuss the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) for the launch.

Participants in the February 22 briefing are:

• William Gerstenmaier, Associate Administrator, NASA Human Exploration and Operations
• Kathy Lueders, Manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program
• Kirk Shireman, Manager, International Space Station Program
• Hans Koenigsmann, Vice President, Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceX
• Astronaut Office Representative

If the launch takes place as planned at 2:48 am ET on March 2, arrival at the ISS will take place about 27 hours later at 5:55 am March 3.  Crew Dragon will depart ISS on March 8.

The full schedule of press briefings is as follows.  Hopefully any updates will be posted on NASA’s website for the launch.

All times are EST.

Friday, Feb. 22

• (no earlier than) 6 p.m. – Post-flight readiness review briefing at Kennedy, with the following representatives:
  • William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator, NASA Human Exploration and Operations
  • Kathy Lueders, manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program
  • Kirk Shireman, manager, International Space Station Program
  • Hans Koenigsmann, vice president, Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceX
  • Astronaut Office representative

Thursday, Feb. 28

• TBD – Pre-launch briefing at Kennedy, with the following representatives:
  • Kathy Lueders, manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program
  • Kirk Shireman, manager, International Space Station Program
  • SpaceX representative
  • Astronaut Office representative

Saturday, March 2

• 2 a.m. – NASA TV launch coverage begins for the 2:48 a.m. liftoff
• 5 a.m. – Post-launch news conference at Kennedy, with the following representatives:
  • Steve Stich, NASA launch manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program
  • Kirk Shireman, manager, International Space Station Program
  • SpaceX representative
  • Astronaut Office representative

Sunday, March 3

• 3:30 a.m. – Rendezvous and docking coverage
• 8:45 a.m. – Hatch opening coverage
• 10:30 a.m. – Station crew welcoming ceremony

Friday, March 8

• 12:15 a.m. – Hatch closing coverage begins
• 2:30 a.m. – Undocking coverage begins
• 7:30 a.m. – Deorbit and landing coverage
• TBD – Post-landing briefing on NASA TV, location TBD, with the following representatives:
  • Steve Stich, deputy manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program
  • International Space Station Program representative
  • SpaceX representative
  • Astronaut Office representative