April 27, 2024

SpaceX Dragon Resupply Ship Splashes Down, Returning Critical Science to Earth

By NASA
January 11, 2023

The suns glint beams throughout the Solomon Sea exposing the cloud-covered Solomon Islands as the International Space Station orbited 259 miles above on January 8, 2023. Credit: NASA
SpaceXs uncrewed Dragon cargo spacecraft sprinkled down at 5:19 a.m. EST Wednesday, January 11, north of Cape Canaveral off the Florida coast, marking the return of the businesss 26th contracted cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA The spacecraft carried around 4,400 pounds of valuable clinical experiments and other cargo back to Earth.
The Full Moon is envisioned from the International Space Station along with a part the SpaceX Dragon Endurance crew ship while orbiting 264 miles above southern Brazil on January 6, 2023. Credit: NASA.
A few of the clinical investigations returned by Dragon consist of:

Deep space radiation protection: A vest designed to safeguard astronauts from high dosages of radiation triggered by unpredictable solar particle events is going back to Earth after months of testing. Crew members used the Astrorad vest while carrying out day-to-day tasks and offered feedback about how easy it is to place on, how it feels and fits, and the range of motion possible while wearing it. The vests developers prepare to use that feedback to enhance design of the garment, which might supply radiation defense for astronauts on Artemis objectives to the Moon.

Air, water, plants: XROOTS used hydroponic (water-based) and aeroponic (air-based) strategies to grow plants without soil or other development media. Similar techniques might be utilized to produce crops for future space missions and to improve growing and food security for the advantage of people on Earth.
Bioprospecting in space: Bioprospecting is the process of identifying plants and animals that may include substances with potential for use as drugs, biochemicals, and more. Previous research studies discovered that space can cause genetic and physiological changes that might result in microbes yielding such products. Rhodium Microgravity Bioprospecting-1 studied a method to search for these microbes. The science chambers and temperature logger from the examination are returning to Earth for additional examination.

The SpaceX Dragon freight craft is pictured departing the area of the area station following its undocking from the Harmony modules space-facing port. Credit: NASA

Deep area radiation protection: A vest developed to secure astronauts from high dosages of radiation triggered by unforeseeable solar particle events is returning to Earth after months of testing. Comparable techniques might be used to produce crops for future space objectives and to boost cultivation and food security for the advantage of individuals on Earth.
Bioprospecting in area: Bioprospecting is the process of recognizing plants and animals that might contain substances with capacity for use as drugs, biochemicals, and more. Previous research studies discovered that space can cause hereditary and physiological modifications that might result in microbes yielding such products.