![\"The](\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/spacestation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2021\/01\/spacex_cargodragon.jpg\")
<\/a>NASA Television and the agency\u2019s\u00a0website<\/a>\u00a0are broadcasting\u00a0live coverage for the departure of an upgraded SpaceX cargo Dragon spacecraft from the\u00a0International Space Station<\/a>.\u00a0NASA astronaut\u00a0Victor Glover<\/a>\u00a0is\u00a0monitoring the activity aboard the station.<\/p>\n The targeted undocking time has been moved to optimize communication coverage; commands to undock will be sent at\u00a09 a.m. EST<\/a>\u00a0with physical separation of the two spacecraft about\u00a09:05 a.m<\/a>.<\/p>\n The undocking will be the first time a U.S. commercial cargo craft autonomously departs from the station\u2019s International Docking Adapter.<\/p>\n The spacecraft is filled with more than 4,400 pounds of valuable scientific experiments and other cargo to return to Earth to complete\u00a0SpaceX\u2019s 21st<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0commercial resupply services mission for NASA.<\/p>\n Dragon will fire its thrusters to move a safe distance from the station\u2019s space-facing port of the Harmony module and exit the area of the space station to begin its return to Earth. On\u00a0Wednesday<\/a>, Dragon will initiate a deorbit burn to begin its re-entry sequence into Earth\u2019s atmosphere then make a parachute-assisted splashdown around\u00a08:27 p.m<\/a>. \u2013 the\u00a0first return<\/a>\u00a0of a cargo resupply spacecraft off the Florida coast west of Tampa. The deorbit burn and splashdown will not be broadcast.<\/p>\n For departure coverage and more information about the mission, visit:\u00a0https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/spacestation<\/a>. Get space station news, images and features via social media on Instagram at:\u00a0@iss<\/a>,\u00a0ISS<\/a>\u00a0on Facebook, and on Twitter\u00a0@Space_Station<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0@ISS_Research<\/a>.<\/p>\n Get The Details…<\/a><\/p>\n Mark Garcia <\/p>\n Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" NASA Television and the agency\u2019s\u00a0website\u00a0are broadcasting\u00a0live coverage for the departure of an upgraded SpaceX cargo Dragon spacecraft from the\u00a0International Space Station.\u00a0NASA astronaut\u00a0Victor Glover\u00a0is\u00a0monitoring the activity aboard the station. The targeted undocking time has been moved to optimize communication coverage; commands to undock will be sent at\u00a09 a.m. EST\u00a0with physical separation of the two spacecraft about\u00a09:05 \u2026 Continue reading