SpaceX targeting late June for next launch from Cape Canaveral

SpaceX is targeting no earlier than late this month for the next Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station as crews wrap up a period of downtime scheduled for Eastern Range maintenance.

Teams are expected to launch a Dragon spacecraft packed with thousands of pounds of supplies and science experiments destined for the International Space Station during an instantaneous 5:41 a.m. window on June 29. Dragon should rendezvous with the station a few days after its departure from Launch Complex 40.

The 15th of 20 missions under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services contract, known as CRS-15, will feature a previous-generation Block 4 booster that SpaceX has typically been discarding after launch to clear room for its newer Block 5 variants. A booster landing for this mission is not expected.

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Block 5 boosters feature more reusability upgrades and will be flown up to 10 times with minimal refurbishments between flights, CEO Elon Musk says, while the previous generation was only capable of two launches before retirement. Minor visual differences, such as a black interstage and landing legs, also help distinguish Block 4 from Block 5.

CRS-15 will mark one of the final Block 4 missions for SpaceX.

After roughly a month on orbit with the ISS, the Dragon spacecraft will target a Pacific Ocean splashdown with science experiments and waste from the station.

Follow FloridaToday.com/Space for live coverage of the CRS-15 mission beginning at 4:30 a.m. June 29.

Contact Emre Kelly at aekelly@floridatoday.com or 321-242-3715. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook at @EmreKelly.