SpaceX In-Flight Abort Test Prelaunch News Conference

Officials from NASA, SpaceX and the U.S. Air Force participate in a briefing at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 17, 2020, prior to launch of SpaceX’s uncrewed In-Flight Abort Test. From left to right are Josh Finch, NASA Communications; Kathy Lueders, program manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program; Benji Reed, director of Crew Mission Management, SpaceX; and Mike McAleenan, launch weather officer with the Air Force’s 45th Weather Squadron. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket topped by the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft will lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A, then begin the launch-abort sequence. The spacecraft will demonstrate its escape capabilities in preparation for crewed flights to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.