The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will return to Earth, bringing with it a wealth of scientific information from the International Space Station (ISS).
Dragon capsule reached the ISS on April 10 with more than 7,000 pounds of cargo, including the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM). On May 11, the unmanned capsule will detach from the ISS's Harmony module facing Earth.
Ground controllers will operate the Canadarm2 robotic arm that will move the capsule into place. European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Tim Peake, who operates the Expedition 47 robotic arm, will carry out the release command at 9:18 a.m.
The Dragon needs to fire its thrusters thrice for it to move at a safe distance from the ISS before starting its deorbit burn at about 2 p.m.
Dragon's journey home will take less than six hours and is estimated to splashdown in the Pacific Ocean at 2:55 p.m.
The capsule will bring home about 3,700 pounds of return cargo, which the recovery team will retrieve upon its return. Return cargo includes NASA-sponsored scientific studies that range from biology and biotechnology studies to physical science investigations and education activities. All of these research materials are going to be shipped to respective laboratories for further studies.
Dragon capsule will also bring the final set of human research samples collected during American astronaut Scott Kelly's one-year mission aboard the ISS.
If the Pacific weather conditions will not permit the return of the Dragon capsule, a backup schedule for departure and splashdown will be on May 14.
The spacecraft's departure from the ISS will be covered live by NASATV starting at 9 a.m. EDT. The deorbit burn and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean will not be shown.
Carried by the Falcon 9 rocket, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft's launch in April made history for being the sole ISS resupply aircraft to return to Earth intact.
