NASA Science, Cargo Launch on 35th SpaceX Resupply Mission to Station
NASA’s SpaceX 35th resupply mission launched Tuesday, carrying over 6,300 pounds of supplies and hardware to the International Space Station, including solar arrays and scientific experiments.
A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft lifted off at 6:33 a.m. EDT Tuesday aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, carrying more than 6,300 pounds of supplies and hardware for the International Space Station. The Dragon is scheduled to autonomously dock at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, to the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module. NASA will provide live coverage starting at 9:15 a.m. through multiple platforms.
The mission includes the final pair of International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays, which will complete the station’s power system augmentation. Astronauts will install the arrays during spacewalks planned for later this fall. Dragon also delivers experiments such as hardware to manufacture artificial retinas in microgravity and 3D heart tissue models for drug testing.
Additional research payloads include studies on glass formation in microgravity and brain organoids to explore treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. These investigations span biology, biotechnology, physical sciences, and Earth and space science. Research on the station supports advancements benefiting people on Earth and future deep space missions.
The Dragon spacecraft will remain at the station until mid-November before returning to Earth with time-critical research and cargo, splashing down off the coast of California. The mission advances NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon in preparation for human exploration of Mars.