Related: How SpaceXs Dragon space pill works (infographic) Image 1 of 2A new SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and a formerly flown Cargo Dragon spacecraft stand atop Pad 39B of NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of a prepared Dec. 21, 2021 launch to the International Space Station. (Image credit: SpaceX) Image 2 of 2A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands atop the drone landing ship Just Read The Instructions after a successful landing following the launch of the CRS-24 Dragon freight ship for NASA from Pad 39A of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Dec. 21, 2021. Related: Watch a SpaceX rocket ace landing on a drone ship in stunning brand-new videoLast Dragon launch of 2021SpaceXs gumdrop-shaped CRS-24 pill is the sixth Dragon spacecraft to introduce this year, 5 of which took a trip to the area station and back.” Falcon 9 rocket records” Its been a record-breaking year for SpaceX,” Sarah Walker, Dragon objective supervisor for SpaceX stated during a prelaunch news rundown on Dec. 20. That made it possible for SpaceX to pull off a hat technique for its final launch act of 2021, launching an overall of three rockets in less than 72 hours.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.– SpaceX introduced its 31st rocket of the year early Tuesday (Dec. 21), sending an utilized Dragon cargo capsule toward the International Space Station before nailing the companys 100th landing. A new two-stage Falcon 9 rocket launched from Launch Complex 39A here at NASAs Kennedy Space Center at 5:07 a.m. EST (1007 GMT), beginning the businesss 24th cargo resupply mission to the orbiting lab for NASA. The Dragon is packed with more than 6,500 pounds (2,949 kgs) of supplies, scientific experiments, and hardware for the crew of Expedition 66 on the station.About eight minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9s very first phase went back to Earth, landing on among SpaceXs drone ships in the Atlantic Ocean in a smooth goal. The enormous ship, called Just Read the Instructions, is one of SpaceXs 3 drone ships that are developed to act as floating landing platforms and return them to port for later reuse. ” There it is! So this is the very first landing for this specific booster however the 100th effective landing for an orbital class rocket,” stated Andy Train, a SpaceX production manager, in a live webcast. “What a way to end off the year.” Related: How SpaceXs Dragon area capsule works (infographic) Image 1 of 2A brand-new SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and a previously flown Cargo Dragon spacecraft stand atop Pad 39B of NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of a prepared Dec. 21, 2021 launch to the International Space Station. (Image credit: SpaceX) Image 2 of 2A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands atop the drone landing ship Just Read The Instructions after a successful landing following the launch of the CRS-24 Dragon freight ship for NASA from Pad 39A of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Dec. 21, 2021. (Image credit: SpaceX) Dragon is scheduled to come to the station just under 24 hours after liftoff, docking with the orbital station on Wednesday morning (Dec. 22) around 4:30 a.m. EST (0930 GMT)– simply over 24 hours after the launch. NASA astronauts Raja Chari and Tom Marshburn will keep track of the Dragon as it docks itself to the space station. You can see the docking live online, courtesy of NASA TELEVISION, starting at 3 a.m. EST (0800 GMT). Weather officials at the Space Forces 45th Weather Squadron predicted undecided weather for the objectives first launch attempt, arranged for Dec. 21, with the main concerns being thick and cumulus clouds along with the electric field rule. Fortunately, mom nature complied and the rocket was able to get off the ground right on time. A thick cloud layer hung over the area coast, blocking views of the rocket as it climbed up to area; nevertheless, those clouds made for good acoustics as the roar of the engines thundered overhead. The first-stage booster included in todays flight, known as B1069, was a first-time flier, making its launch debut, while its Dragon counterpart has actually already flown as soon as before as part of the CRS-22 objective earlier this year.After its on-time liftoff, the rockets first stage went back to Earth marking SpaceXs 100th healing of a Falcon first stage considering that SpaceX recuperated its first booster in 2015. Related: Watch a SpaceX rocket ace landing on a drone ship in spectacular new videoLast Dragon launch of 2021SpaceXs gumdrop-shaped CRS-24 pill is the sixth Dragon spacecraft to introduce this year, five of which traveled to the spaceport station and back. (The other brought the Inspiration4 team into space for a three-day mission to orbit the Earth.) Its packed with a bonanza of science payloads as well as supplies and treats for the crew, that include joyful delights such as turkey and fruitcake, not to discuss some Christmas presents for the astronauts.” Were going to have some presents for the team, and were going to fly some special food for Christmas supper,” Joel Montalbano, ISS program supervisor for NASA, stated throughout a prelaunch news rundown on Monday (Dec. 20). “We have some turkey, green beans, and everyones preferred fruit cake.” Onboard are a range of medical payloads that will help benefit astronauts as well as people on Earth. One such payload, called Bioprint FirstAid, will show how a portable device can print a Band-Aid utilizing the astronauts own skin cells. This type of spot can help speed up the healing process in addition to reduce any injury healing problems that could crop up throughout spaceflight. It likewise has implications here on Earth as it might provide much safer, more versatile recovery anywhere in the world, even in remote areas. SpaceXs Dragon CRS-24 cargo ship is seen as it separates from its Falcon 9 rocket upper stage after releasing into orbit on Dec. 21, 2021 to provide Christmas presents and other NASA supplies to the International Space Station. It will show up on Dec. 22, 2021. (Image credit: SpaceX) The Host-Pathogen experiment will look at cells drawn from various crew members at various stages during flight to evaluate how microorganisms impact the bodys immune action. Scientists will take the samples collected and expose them to both “regular” germs and germs thats been exposed to spaceflight. This could lead to an immune system increase for astronauts during spaceflight along with to more efficient care of patients here on Earth with jeopardized immune systems. The Multi-Variable Plant Platform (MVP-Plant-01) will keep an eye on the development of plant roots and shoots in microgravity as part of an effort to understand how plants adjust to changes in their environments. The research could help growers develop more robust plants that can withstand extreme environmental changes, like long droughts. In overall, there are more than 6,500 pounds (4,490 kg) of cargo that will help the astronauts carry out a range of research study experiments in addition to aid to restock the station. Its been a hectic year on station with an overall of eight various freight ships, five crew objectives, and two different space traveler groups, among which brought a Russian movie crew. (The other carried Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa and his assistant on a 10-day journey to the ISS.) 2021 also saw the delivery of 2 various Russian modules as well as the installation of a new set of solar varieties to help increase the power to the orbiting outpost, with 2 more to be installed next year.” A huge thanks to the ISS group around the globe for what weve had the ability to achieve this year,” Montalbano said. “As you know, we run and work around pandemic constraints and the groups have just been outstanding.” Falcon 9 rocket records” Its been a record-breaking year for SpaceX,” Sarah Walker, Dragon mission manager for SpaceX stated during a prelaunch news rundown on Dec. 20. “This is our 31st and last launch for 2021, putting us a step above the 26 launches we completed in 2015.” It also marks a major recovery turning point as the 100th effective recovery of a first-stage booster for the company. SpaceX started recuperating rockets in 2015, with the milestone landing taking place on the anniversary of the really first healing. SpaceX relies on a fleet of multiple-use rockets in order to maintain such a high launch cadence. This implies that instead of utilizing a new rocket each time, the company can refly its recuperated boosters often times over.Of the 31 launches, just 2 flew on brand name new rockets, the rest were on one of SpaceXs flight-proven boosters. Thats thanks to a set of upgrades the Falcon 9 gotten in 2018, in addition to a fleet of drone ships to capture the returning boosters. SpaceX now has three of these enormous ships at its disposal: “Of Course I Still Love You,” “Just Read the Instructions” and the newest ship on the block, “A Shortfall of Gravitas.” The company recently moved its most prolific ship, “Of Course I Still Love You”, to the West Coast where the boat will help with recovery operations for missions that introduce from SpaceXs California-based launch pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base. That made it possible for SpaceX to manage a hat technique for its last launch act of 2021, releasing an overall of 3 rockets in less than 72 hours. As such, the company had all three of its massive drone ships stationed out in the ocean for the first time ever.The booster featured in todays flight is the most current rocket to join SpaceXs fleet of veteran rockets, logging its first successful launch and landing. After it is offloaded, the booster will be inspected and prepped to fly once again. Now that Dragon has made it to orbit, it will invest the next day chasing down the spaceport station prior to it docks itself to the orbital outpost. Follow Amy Thompson on Twitter @astrogingersnap. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook..
