SpaceX is targeting Saturday, December 5 for launch of its twenty-first Commercial Resupply Services mission (CRS-21), which will launch from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Launch is targeted for 11:39 a.m. EST, or 16:39 UTC. Dragon will separate from Falcon 9’s second stage about eleven minutes after liftoff and autonomously dock to the space station on Sunday, December 6. A backup launch opportunity is available on Sunday, December 6 at 11:17 a.m. EST, or 16:17 UTC.

This is the first flight of the updated cargo version of Dragon, which is capable of carrying about 20 percent more volume than the previous version of Dragon and has double the amount of powered locker cargo capability. Dragon is now designed for up to five flights to and from the space station, and this cargo version of the spacecraft can stay on station for a duration more than twice as long as the previous version of Dragon.

The Falcon 9 first stage rocket booster supporting this launch previously supported…