SPACEX DEMO-1 DEPARTURE FROM ISS AND RETURN TO EARTH, Mar 8, 2019, NASA TV coverage at 2:00 am ET and 7:30 am ET; splashdown at ~8:45 am ET

Update, March 7:  The hatch to Demo-1 was closed today at 12:39 pm ET (half a day earlier than NASA originally announced).  Tomorrow, March 8, NASA TV coverage of undocking begins at 2:00 am ET with physical separation of the spacecraft at 2:31 am.  Live coverage will resume at 7:30 am ET for the deorbit burn, which is scheduled for 7:53 am ET, and continue through splashdown at 8:45 am ET.  No time has been announced yet for the post-landing press conference.

Update, March 6:  Splashdown on March 8 is scheduled for approximately 8:45 am ET.

Original Entry: 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) from March 2-8, 2019.  This flight, Demo-1, will not carry a crew.

Launch is scheduled for 2:48 am ET on March 2, 2019.   If it takes place as planned, Crew Dragon will arrive at the ISS about 27 hours later at 5:55 am March 3.

It will depart on March 8 and land back on Earth, with NASA TV coverage of deorbit landing beginning at 7:30 am ET.  A post-landing briefing will take place at a time to be announced.

NASA TV will cover departure and landing as follows [updated March 7]:

• 12:15 a.m. – Hatch closing coverage begins  [took place at 12:39 pm ET March 7]
• 2:30 a.m. – Undocking coverage begins [now 2:00 am ET]
• 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

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