45th Space Wing supports 4th SpaceX launch for ISS resupply mission

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  • By 45th Space Wing
  • Public Affairs Office
CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. --  Space Exploration Technologies' (SpaceX) completed a successful launch of their Falcon 9 Dragon spacecraft headed to the International Space Station from Space Launch Complex 40, here, Sept. 21 at 1:52 a.m. EDT.
 
A combined team of military, government civilians and contractors from across the 45th Space Wing provided support to the mission, including weather forecasts, launch and range operations, security, safety and public affairs.  

The mission, designated SpaceX-4, is the fourth of 12 SpaceX flights contracted by NASA to resupply the space station. 

During the mission, SpaceX-4 will deliver cargo and crew supplies to the International Space Station. It will also carry the ISS-RapidScat instrument, a replacement for NASA's QuikScat Earth satellite to monitor ocean winds for climate research, weather predictions, and hurricane monitoring.

The ISS-RapidScat instrument was built by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California. It will be installed on the end of the station's Columbus laboratory.

Col. Shawn Fairhurst, 45th Space Wing vice commander, who served as the Launch Decision Authority for this launch, praised the work of all those involved in making this launch a success.

"Congratulations to SpaceX, NASA and all the mission partners who made this ISS resupply mission a success," he said.

"We truly have a tremendous space team here on the Space Coast, and it's my honor to be a part of it," he added.  "With every mission, with every successful launch, we continue to prove we are the 'World's Premier Gateway to Space,'" Fairhurst said.

 

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