Elon Musk’s SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon spacecraft filled with supplies, science experiments, and holiday treats for the International Space Station (ISS) crew on Thursday. The launch took place at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre at 8:28 pm EST.
The Dragon spacecraft, part of the Commercial Resupply Service (CRS 29), is expected to dock at the ISS Harmony module on Saturday morning at around 5:20 am. NASA astronauts Loral O’Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli will oversee the arrival.
This mission marked the second flight of the first stage booster, which previously supported Crew-7. The Falcon 9 booster successfully landed at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Landing Zone 1 after stage separation.
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CRS 29’s cargo for the ISS includes a variety of holiday treats such as pumpkin spice cappuccinos, chocolate, cranberry sauce, turkey, pizza kits, fresh produce, and specialty cheeses. The delivery also includes a replacement tool bag lost during a recent spacewalk, containing tethers and tool sockets.
In addition to holiday supplies, the Dragon is carrying new science investigations for NASA, including the Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE), which aims to study gravity waves and their impact on space weather. The ISS is currently involved in numerous ongoing research investigations, with more experiments set to begin after the Dragon’s arrival.
Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/iQ8DH6XoU8
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 10, 2023
