SPACEX DEMO-1 UNCREWED COMMERCIAL CREW TEST FLIGHT LAUNCH, Mar 2, 2019, KSC, 2:49 am ET (NASA TV)

Update, Feb 28:  Launch time has been adjusted by one minute and now will be at 2:49 am ET (instead of 2:48).  The weather forecast is 80% go.   The backup launch date is March 5, one hour earlier.

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).  This flight, Demo-1, will not carry a crew.

Launch from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center (which SpaceX leases from NASA) is scheduled for 2:48 am ET on March 2.  If that takes place as planned, 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