A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off a Cargo Dragon spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center on Monday for SpaceX’s 32nd cargo mission to the International Space Station.
The spacecraft will bring 6,700 lb of supplies and scientific hardware to the ISS under a Commercial Resupply Services contract with SpaceX, NASA said. The Dragon capsule is expected to arrive at the space station and dock with the Harmony module on Tuesday.
What Is SpaceX Bringing to the ISS?
Science experiments and technology trials onboard the spacecraft include an enhanced air quality monitoring system that could protect crew members on exploration missions to the moon and Mars, a demonstration of refined maneuvers for free-floating robots, and two atomic clocks to examine fundamental physics concepts and test global synchronization of precision timepieces.
According to NASA, the scientific investigations will help establish the foundation for future human exploration under the Artemis mission, which aims to bring astronauts to the moon and beyond.
The Cargo Dragon will return to Earth in May, carrying time-sensitive research and cargo.
