The SpaceX Dragon capsule arrived at the International Space Station at 6:52 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, September 23. Full birthing operations concluded a few hours later.
Weather delayed the original launch schedule, but only by a day. The Dragon capsule launched aboard one of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida in the early morning hours of Sunday, September 21. It took Dragon two days to catch up to the International Space Station. But the capsule successfully birthed with the station and delivered its payload.
#Dragon is now attached to the #ISS, its home for the next four weeks. https://t.co/wytY3mnBf1 pic.twitter.com/d6K97qcaSX
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 23, 2014
SpaceX last resupplied the space station in April. This latest resupply mission includes new experiments including a rodent habitat and a 3D printer. NASA’s Rodent Research habitat houses 20 mice. Cameras will observe the rodents during this 30-day experiment to monitor behavior and the physical effects of microgravity on mammals. Hopefully these little guys fare better than the recent astronaut geckos that perished during a Russian experiment.
The 3D printer, created by Made in Space, will be used to print items aboard the station. Then, those items will be brought back to Earth so researchers can see how the quality of 3D printing in microgravity compares to the quality of objects printed on Earth.
When Dragon leaves the ISS, it will transport some science experiments currently aboard the station back to Earth. One of these experiments is a crop of space lettuce. Scientists on Earth will inspect the veggies grown aboard the station to see if the food is safe for consumption.
The Dragon capsule will remain at the ISS for roughly 30 days. Astronauts will unload Dragon’s cargo, then reload it with everything that is scheduled to return to Earth.
This latest flight marks SpaceX's fourth resupply mission to the ISS.
