SpaceX launched the 28th cargo mission to NASA’s International Space Station on Monday (June 5) after a two-day weather delay.
a SpaceX A Falcon 9 rocket launched a Dragon robotic cargo capsule toward the orbiting laboratory Monday at 11:47 a.m. EDT (1547 GMT) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Nine minutes later, the Falcon 9 first stage returned to Earth for a precision landing aboard SpaceX’s A Shortfall of Gravitas drone, which was stationed off the coast of Florida. SpaceX said this was the fifth takeoff and landing for this particular booster Description of the task.
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the Falcon 9 The upper stage deployed the uncrewed Dragon capsule into low Earth orbit as planned about 12 minutes after liftoff.
The spacecraft will now make an 18-hour trip to the International Space Station (ISS), with docking scheduled for Tuesday (June 6) at 5:50 a.m. EDT (0950 GMT). You can watch this appointment here at Space.com when the time comes.
Dragon carries approximately 7,000 pounds (3,175 kilograms) of scientific research supplies and provisions for the station’s crew. Northrop Grumman launch delayed swan NG-19, the International Space Station’s resupply vehicle, prompted NASA to transfer some of the cargo intended for that mission to Dragon in order to keep the space station’s cache from dwindling too much.
During a prelaunch press conference on Tuesday (May 30), NASA’s chief scientist for the International Space Station, Curt Costello, said CRS-28 “makes up for the delay we’ve had in getting the NG Cygnus spacecraft to the station. So, we’re sending a lot of more of crew logistics supplies to keep them going through the end of the year.”
Scientific research aboard CRS-28 brings new experiments to the International Space Station, as well as replenishing materials for more than 30 projects in progress. Showcasing Clinger’s technology for docking systems for the autonomous space station, MicrogravityDNA mutation from telomeres and blue energy discharge research for thunderstorms are among some of the new science experiments under way on this mission.
Half a dozen cubes Also on board is the CRS-28 Dragon, all but one of which are student-run projects from the Canadian Space Agency’s Cubesat program. The sixth comes from the Space Foundation, in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory and Space Systems Command. It’s called Moonlighter, and it will provide a platform for challenging space cybersecurity hacks.
CRS-28 also carries the next pair of iROSAs (International Space Station Solar Arrays), which are wired on top of the ISS’ existing solar panels in order to increase the station’s electricity needs. It will be removed from the Dragon’s box using the station’s robotic arm, then installed by NASA astronauts over the course of two years Spacewalk. Once operational, iROSA’s full complement will boost the orbiting laboratory’s power supply by 20% to 30%.
Designed as a reusable vehicle, SpaceX’s Dragon cargo will return science samples from more than 34 probes aboard the International Space Station at the end of its stay on the station. Like its manned counterpart, the Dragon payload returns to Earth for a smooth ocean splash with the help of a parachute.
Today’s launch was originally scheduled for Saturday (June 3), but SpaceX announced a 24-hour delay before the launch, citing the need to “allow more time for vehicle preparations and better weather,” according to one newspaper. Twitter update. On Sunday (June 4), SpaceX announced Another one day delayciting strong winds in the missile recovery area.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 12:15 PM EST on June 5 with news of the launch, rocket landing, and spacecraft deployment.
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