SpaceX postponed the Dec. 4 launch of its Dragon cargo capsule because of choppy sea conditions and high winds above the launch site. The company said it would try the next day again if the situations become better. Initially, SpaceX was set to launch the said cargo capsule, which was filled with almost 5,700 pounds of supplies and cargo for the International Space Station (ISS) crew.
In an article posted on The Verge, it was indicated that it was supposed to be the last resupply mission of SpaceX "to the station" for this year. After the flight, SpaceX is set to try one of its signature rocket landings, aiming for a drone ship that floats in the Atlantic Ocean. It's not typical for SpaceX to land on the ocean after an ISS flight. Usually, as indicated in the same "The Verge" article, the company attempts to land "its first Falcon 9 rocket on a concrete landing pad on solid ground." The reason for this is that there is typically sufficient fuel left over to succeed such a ground landing.
Something New for SpaceX to Try
It may not be typical for SpaceX to do ocean landing. However, the company is attempting to try something new for this project. As mentioned, following the "Falcon 9 drops off of the Dragon capsule in orbit," the rocket's top portion will remain in space longer than the normal, executing a coast for 6 long hours. Jessica Jensen, the Dragon mission management director, said during a press conference that it is a "thermal demonstration that SpaceX is performing" for several customers. She added that she couldn't give any more details about it.
Additionally, Jensen told the press conference attendees that there would be longer demonstration missions that the company was going to fly later on. Because of these future developments, according to the mission's director, there is a need for SpaceX to burn additional propellant on the way up. Meaning, Falcon 9 will no longer have much spare fuel to go back to its landing site. Consequently, a landing on the ocean will be needed.
Expectations from Launch, if It Happens
If the launch takes place, according to the company's representative, SpaceX's Dragon capsule will meet up on Saturday, Dec. 7, with the International Space Station. Meaning, it will bring a lot of scientific experimentation to the ISS, which includes one that will evaluate how the flames are spreading when they are in small spaces. Moreover, Dragon is carrying, too, the first-ever Mexican-made small satellite which will be deployed from the space station, which the students in Mexico created to show ways for satellites to interconnect with one another while in orbit.
Incidentally, Dragon is set to remain in ISS for around one month before it goes back to Earth, containing 3,800 pounds of scientific samples and cargo. And when it returns, according to Bryan Dansberry from ISS, it will return the samples representing around 54 investigations. Moreover, the supposed launch is set to push-start a busy traffic month for ISS. And, after SpaceX succeeds in the station, a Russian cargo ship is set to launch, as well, to the ISS tomorrow, Dec. 6. Then, come Dec. 19, Boeing is launching for the first time the CST-100 Starliner, its new passenger spacecraft, also to the ISS.
