NASA and SpaceX celebrated a successful launch of the 29th commercial resupply mission, carried out by the Dragon spacecraft. The launch took place at 8:28 pm EST from launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on November 9, 2023. The mission includes a variety of scientific experiments and technology demonstrations, including optical communications and measurement of atmospheric waves, all destined for the International Space Station.
According to a report from NASA, the uncrewed spacecraft is transporting over 2950 kilograms of cargo and scientific hardware. The Dragon resupply spacecraft is set to arrive at the International Space Station at 5:20 a.m. EST on Saturday, November 11. Among the cargo are two major experiments: NASA’s AWE (Atmospheric Waves Experiment) and ILLUMA-T experiments (Integrated Laser Communications Relay Demonstration Low Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal), which will study atmospheric waves and laser-based communication.
In addition to the experiments, the Dragon spacecraft is also carrying atmosphere monitor parts to check the cabin’s atmosphere, as well as a space tissue equivalent dosimeter to study radiation and the space radiation environment. Seasonal food for the crew on board is also part of the cargo, as reported by Space.com. The Dragon spacecraft will remain on the space station for about a month before returning to Earth with an estimated cargo of 1724 kilograms. Notably, the Dragon spacecraft is the only spacecraft with the capability to return to Earth without any harm or damage.
The arrival of the Dragon resupply spacecraft at the International Space Station will be live streaming by NASA, beginning at 3:45 am EST on the NASA+ streaming service, which can be accessed from the web or the NASA app. The event will also be broadcast on NASA TV, YouTube, and NASA’s official website.
The International Space Station, which launched on November 20, 1998, is a collaborative effort among five major space agencies: NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA, and CSA. The station, now in its 24th year in lower Earth orbit, currently has seven people onboard.
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