SpaceX’s Resupply Mission: What Cargo Was Delivered to the Space Station?
SpaceX has successfully completed its 21st resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS). On Sunday, December 6th, 2020, the Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon spacecraft was launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida. Fourteen hours later, the spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS.
The Mission:
The primary objective of this mission was to deliver essential supplies, scientific experiments, and equipment to the ISS. Around 2,800 kilograms of cargo was delivered, including materials that would help improve the long-term sustainability and habitability of the ISS.
The Delivery:
The Dragon spacecraft used an advanced docking system, which allows for a precise and automated approach to the ISS. The spacecraft was captured by the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm and moved to its berthing location on the Harmony module. The process was remotely controlled by NASA astronaut Kate Rubins and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi.
The Falcon 9’s first stage booster successfully landed on SpaceX’s “Just Read the Instructions” autonomous drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, marking the 67th successful return of a Falcon 9 booster to date.
The Significance:
The success of this resupply mission highlights SpaceX’s reliability and cost-effectiveness in delivering essential supplies and experiments to the ISS. This is another step towards NASA’s goal of making the ISS a hub for commercial activity in low Earth orbit.
- SpaceX’s partnership with NASA has been booming ever since the first resupply mission in 2012.
- The company’s reusable rockets significantly reduce the cost of space exploration and make it an economically feasible venture.
The company also plans to dock with the ISS using its Crew Dragon spacecraft, which will transport astronauts to and from the ISS. This is an essential step towards NASA’s goal of having a long-term presence on the Moon and eventually sending humans to Mars.
In conclusion, SpaceX has yet again demonstrated its prowess in space exploration by successfully delivering another mission to the ISS. Its continued partnership with NASA is a significant boost to the future of space exploration and increases the feasibility of low Earth orbit commercial activity. With SpaceX’s plans for Crew Dragon, the future of human spaceflight looks more promising than ever before.