SpaceX resupply mission November 22. Watch here

November 22 SpaceX resupply mission to ISS

NASA and SpaceX have picked a time and date for CRS-26, the next resupply mission to the International Space Station. And the first launch window opens at 3:54 p.m. ET (20:54 UTC) on Tuesday, November 22, 2022. SpaceX’s launch coverage will start about 25 minutes before launch. Watch it in the video above or via YouTube.

Meanwhile, NASA TV will begin its launch coverage at 3:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday with docking coverage at 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

NASA confirmed the launch time via its Commercial Resupply Services blog. And SpaceX made the announcement via its sister company Twitter, which was recently acquired by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk:

Targeting Tuesday, November 22 at 3:54 p.m. ET for Falcon 9’s launch of Dragon’s 26th commercial resupply mission to the @space_station ? https://t.co/oXa4P2AWg7

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 18, 2022

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2nd SpaceX resupply mission launch window

Another launch window is available at 2:20 p.m. ET Saturday (19:20 UTC November 26). NASA said the CRS-26 Dragon Cargo vehicle will arrive at the ISS at 5:57 a.m. (10:57 UTC) on Wednesday, November 23, if it is able to lift off during the first window.

Dwarf tomatoes in space

As usual, the cargo ship will be loaded with science experiments, including a scheme to grow fresh veggies in orbit. NASA previewed the manifest’s contents:

SpaceX’s Dragon will deliver new science investigations, supplies, and equipment for the international crew, including the next pair of International Space Station Roll Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs), which will augment existing power supplies to the station. The mission also will carry a study to grow dwarf tomatoes to help create a continuous fresh-food production system in space, as well as an experiment that tests an on-demand method to create specific quantities of key nutrients.

NASA provides a more detailed look at the science cargo here.

High-flying high school science project

Also riding to orbit on CRS-26 are a set of four miniature satellites, part of NASA’s Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) 49 mission. By the way, the shoebox-size orbital vehicles will carry scientific experiments designed by a high school, a college and the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. NASA described the work they’ll do:

The small satellites, called CubeSats, will study a range of topics, from satellite communication methods to space weather to testing technology for robotic assembly of large telescopes.

Additionally an in-depth description of the ElaNa experiments is available at NASA. Also, NASA is offering a chance to “attend” the launch online. In fact, participants will get a travel stamp for their virtual launch passports, also offered via NASA.

Bottom line: The next SpaceX resupply mission to the ISS is scheduled to launch at 3:54 p.m. ET (20:54 UTC) on November 22, 2022. Watch the livestream at EarthSky.