WATCH: SpaceX CRS-21 Launches from Kennedy Space Center With Upgraded Dragon Resupply Spacecraft

launched off from Launch Complex-39A

ABOVE VIDEO: Falcon 9 has launched the CRS-21 mission to the International Space Station. Liftoff occurred 11:17 a.m. from LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida. This mission will feature the debut of SpaceX’s upgraded Dragon resupply spacecraft.

CAPE CANAVERAL – SpaceX has launched their 21st contracted Cargo resupply flight to the International Space Station (ISS), marking the first flight of Cargo Dragon 2, the company’s new and upgraded un-crewed cargo spacecraft.

The Commercial Resupply Services-21 (CRS-21) mission launched off from Launch Complex-39A (LC-39A) at the Kennedy Space Center at 11:17 a.m. ahead of an approximately 30 day mission to the ISS, resupplying the seven member Expedition 64 crew.

The Falcon 9 first stage booster set to loft the spacecraft into space will be B1058, which has successfully flown three prior flights including the launch of SpaceX Demo-2 earlier this year (the first crewed test flight of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft), ANASIS-II for South Korea, and an October Starlink mission.

B1058 and Dragon capsule C208, the first purpose-built Cargo Dragon 2 capsule, were rolled out to LC-39A on 2 December via SpaceX’s horizontal crawler-transporter vehicle, following which the rocket was moved upright and into launch position.

On 4. December, the rocket performed a routine static fire test, certifying it for flight.

Although the flight had remained on track for a launch attempt on 5 December, weather conditions in the recovery zone forced a scrub hours before liftoff. The 6 December attempt has more favorable weather conditions for both recovery and launch.

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