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A SpaceX Dragon cargo vessel approaches the International Space Station in March 2024 before docking. The upcoming SpaceX Dragon cargo mission for NASA is scheduled to launch on April 21. | Credit: NASA
SpaceX and NASA Set Predawn Launch Date for Dragon Cargo Mission to ISS
NASA has announced the launch date for its next specialized delivery to the International Space Station (ISS), scheduled for early risers. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is slated to propel an unmanned Dragon cargo spacecraft, laden with essential supplies, on Monday, April 21. The launch will occur from the historic Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Liftoff is targeted for 4:15 a.m. EDT (0815 GMT), marking this mission as a predawn launch.
Cargo and Experiments Aboard SpaceX Dragon
“In addition to provisions and vital hardware for the station crew, Dragon is transporting a suite of scientific experiments, which includes testing enhanced maneuvering capabilities for autonomous robots,” officials at NASA stated in a mission advisory for CRS-32. “Furthermore, the Dragon vehicle is carrying an upgraded air quality monitoring system, designed to enhance astronaut safety during future exploration endeavors to both the Moon and Mars. Two atomic clocks are also part of the payload, intended for investigations into fundamental physics principles, such as relativity, and to assess global synchronization of precision timekeeping systems.”
Logistics of the SpaceX Resupply Mission
While NASA has not released specific details regarding the total cargo weight aboard the Dragon spacecraft, SpaceX‘s typical resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS) generally transport over two tons of cargo. This encompasses experimental equipment, tools, spare components, alongside essential consumables like sustenance, potable water, and other critical provisions.
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SpaceX’s Role in ISS Missions
SpaceX‘s reusable Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rockets are instrumental in conducting routine cargo and astronaut rotation missions to the ISS for NASA. The Dragon capsules remain attached to the station for a duration of several months before returning to Earth, concluding with an ocean splashdown and subsequent recovery for potential future missions.
Other ISS Cargo Providers
SpaceX is not the sole U.S. entity involved in cargo deliveries to the orbital laboratory. Northrop Grumman, with its Cygnus spacecraft, also undertakes NASA resupply missions to the ISS. However, their upcoming launch was postponed following damage to the spacecraft during pre-launch preparations at the Florida launch site. The subsequent Cygnus launch is now anticipated later this year, in the autumn. Additionally, Russia’s unmanned Progress spacecraft completes regular cargo voyages to the station.