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Credit: NASA
A SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule has arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) this morning (April 22), wrapping up about 28 hours traveling on orbit to close the gap between them.
Elon Musk’s company launched its 32nd robotic resupply mission to the ISS for NASA early Monday morning (April 21), sending a Dragon freighter aloft from Florida’s Space Coast.
Dragon’s off-Earth chase ended early this morning, with the capsule docking with the ISS’s Harmony module zenith port at 8:40 a.m. EDT (1238 GMT) as the pair flew over the Indian ocean.
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SpaceX’s CRS-27 Dragon cargo spacecraft approaches the International Space Station above the Indian Ocean on March 16, 2023. | Credit: NASA
Dragon will deliver about 6,700 pounds (3,040 kilograms) of supplies to the astronauts currently living and working on the orbiting lab.
The cargo haul includes food and other essentials, as well as a variety of scientific experiments. Among the pieces of research gear are “an enhanced air quality monitoring system that could protect crew members on exploration missions to the moon and Mars, and two atomic clocks to examine fundamental physics concepts such as relativity and test worldwide synchronization of precision timepieces,” NASA officials said in a statement.
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The Dragon will remain docked to the ISS for about a month, when it will return to Earth with a splashdown off the California coast.
The capsule will bring down some trash as well as a load of scientific experiments for researchers to analyze. Dragon is the only currently operational cargo craft with this return-to-Earth capability; the others are designed to burn up in Earth’s atmosphere when their missions conclude.
SpaceX Dragon Cargo Capsule Docks at International Space Station
A SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule successfully reached the International Space Station (ISS) this morning, April 22, culminating a roughly 28-hour orbital journey. This mission highlights SpaceX’s ongoing partnership with NASA for critical ISS resupply operations. The Dragon’s docking delivers essential supplies and important scientific research equipment to the orbiting laboratory.
Dragon’s Journey and Docking Procedure
SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, initiated its 32nd robotic resupply mission to the ISS for NASA early Monday, April 21. A Dragon freighter ascended from Florida’s Space Coast, embarking on its voyage to the space station.
The pursuit concluded this morning as the Dragon capsule autonomously docked at the ISS’s Harmony module zenith port at 8:40 a.m. EDT (1238 GMT). At the time of docking, the ISS and Dragon were orbiting above the Indian Ocean.
Cargo Delivery to the Orbital Laboratory
The Dragon spacecraft is set to unload approximately 6,700 pounds (3,040 kilograms) of provisions for the astronauts currently aboard the orbiting laboratory.
Scientific Experiments and Research Material
The cargo includes:
- Food and essential supplies for the ISS crew.
- A diverse range of scientific experiments and research equipment.
- Advanced air quality monitoring system: Designed to safeguard crew health during future lunar and Martian exploration missions.
- Two atomic clocks: Intended for fundamental physics investigations, including relativity studies and enhancing global time synchronization accuracy.
These experiments underscore the critical role of the ISS in advancing scientific knowledge and preparing for deep-space exploration.
Dragon’s Return to Earth
The Dragon capsule is scheduled to remain docked to the ISS for approximately one month. Upon mission completion, it will undock and commence its return journey to Earth, culminating in a splashdown off the coast of California.
Significantly, Dragon is presently the sole operational cargo vessel capable of returning materials to Earth. It will bring back waste and completed scientific experiments for in-depth analysis by researchers. In contrast, other cargo spacecraft are designed for atmospheric disintegration at the conclusion of their missions.