\n<\/p>\n
NASA and SpaceX are targeting\u00a0a\u00a0mid-May\u00a0launch\u00a0to deliver scientific investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Loaded\u00a0with\u00a0about 6,500\u00a0pounds of supplies, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft\u00a0will lift off aboard\u00a0the company\u2019s Falcon 9 rocket\u00a0from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.\u00a0Following its arrival to the\u00a0orbital complex,\u00a0Dragon will dock autonomously to the forward port of the space station\u2019s Harmony module.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Watch agency launch and arrival coverage on\u00a0NASA+,\u00a0Amazon Prime,\u00a0and NASA\u2019s\u00a0YouTube\u00a0channel.\u00a0Learn how to watch\u00a0NASA content\u00a0through a variety of\u00a0online\u00a0platforms, including social media.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For\u00a0more than\u00a025 years, the International Space Station has\u00a0provided\u00a0research capabilities used by scientists from\u00a0more than\u00a0110 countries to conduct more than 4,000\u00a0experiments in microgravity.\u00a0Research conducted aboard the station helps advance long-duration missions to the Moon as part of the Artemis program and to Mars, while providing multiple benefits to humanity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In addition to cargo for the crew aboard the space station, Dragon will deliver several new\u00a0science\u00a0experiments, including:\u00a0<\/p>\n
ODYSSEY\u00a0will\u00a0evaluate how well Earth-based microgravity simulators recreate space conditions. Researchers will examine bacterial behavior in space and compares\u00a0the results to experiments conducted in microgravity simulators on Earth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
STORIE\u00a0will\u00a0monitor\u00a0charged particles in orbit around the Earth, which\u00a0respond to space weather and\u00a0can\u00a0affect\u00a0assets like power\u00a0grids and satellites.\u00a0The instrument\u00a0could help researchers gain knowledge to better predict and respond to these changes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Laplace\u00a0will\u00a0study\u00a0the movement and collision of dust particles in microgravity to understand particle motion in space. Researchers hope to learn more about Earth\u2019s origins and provide fundamental understanding of how planets in our solar system and beyond came into existence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Green Bone\u00a0will\u00a0observe\u00a0how bone cells grow and develop\u00a0in space\u00a0on a bone scaffold made from wood. Microgravity results could help researchers improve products that treat fragile bone conditions such as osteoporosis.\u00a0<\/p>\n
SPARK\u00a0will\u00a0evaluate how red blood cells and the spleen change in space\u00a0for future astronauts. Researchers will\u00a0observe\u00a0human samples and imagery taken before, during, and after spaceflight to\u00a0identify\u00a0ways to protect astronaut health during long-duration space missions.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n NASA astronaut\u00a0Jack Hathaway\u00a0and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot will\u00a0monitor\u00a0the spacecraft\u2019s arrival. Dragon will remain docked to the orbiting laboratory for about a month before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, returning critical science and hardware to teams on Earth.\u00a0<\/p>\n European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device Power Cable<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0A replacement power cable\u00a0is\u00a0launching\u00a0for\u00a0installation on the European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Catalytic Reactor\u00a0\u2013<\/strong>\u00a0A vital\u00a0component\u00a0of the Water Recovery and Management System, the\u00a0catalytic\u00a0reactor oxidizes volatile organics from wastewater that are removed by the Gas Separator and Ion Exchange Bed\u00a0orbital\u00a0replacement\u00a0units. This\u00a0part\u00a0is launching to\u00a0maintain\u00a0on orbit sparing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Universal Pretreat Concentrate Tank\u00a0\u2013<\/strong>\u00a0This is a passive tank to provide alternate pretreat concentrate to the Universal Waste Management System\u00a0(UWMS)\u00a0and Waste Hygiene Compartment (WHC).\u00a0Two\u00a0units\u00a0are launching to\u00a0maintain\u00a0this hardware,\u00a0in\u00a0tandem\u00a0with Russian pretreat tanks currently used. A\u00a0universal pretreat concentrate tank\u00a0adapter will accompany the tanks to\u00a0connect\u00a0with the Russian hose.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Additional\u00a0equipment launching includes an\u00a0Ultraprobe\u00a0to replace a worn ultrasonic inspection tool, a Remote Sensor Unit to restore spares for the station\u2019s vibration monitoring system, and flexible repair patches for sealing the pressure hull if needed. The mission also will deliver an updated ARMADILLO\u00a0(AOGA\u00a0ReMediation, Advanced\u00a0DeIonization\u00a0and Limited Life Optimization)\u00a0cartridge and hose assemblies to improve water processing for oxygen generation, along with a nitrogen recharge tank assembly to help\u00a0maintain\u00a0the station\u2019s gas reserves.\u00a0<\/p>\n When Dragon returns in mid\u2011June, it will bring back an ocular imaging device used to\u00a0monitor\u00a0crew eye health, a sorbent bed that filters trace contaminants from cabin air, and a separator pump from the Waste and Hygiene Compartment. The Advanced Plant Habitat, which supported long-duration plant biology studies, also will return for eventual museum display. A pressure management device that recovers vestibule air during depressurization will come back for repair and storage as a ground spare.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n