By NASA
January 24, 2022
A SpaceX Cargo Dragon resupply ship departs the space station throughout a previous objective in July 2021. Credit: NASA
SpaceXs upgraded Dragon freight spacecraft sprinkled down at 4:05 p.m. EST off the Florida coast, marking the return of the companys 24th contracted freight resupply objective to the International Space Station for NASA. The spacecraft carried more than 4,900 pounds of valuable clinical experiments and other freight back to Earth.
Crashing off the coast of Florida enables fast transportation of the experiments to NASAs Space Station Processing Facility at the companys Kennedy Space Center in Florida, allowing researchers to collect data with minimal sample direct exposure to Earths gravity.
Some of the scientific examinations that Dragon will go back to Earth consist of:
Last light: A cutting edge light imaging microscopic lense, the Light Microscopy Module (LMM) will return after about 12 years on the station. LMM, sponsored by NASAs Division of Biological and Physical Sciences, made it possible to observe and record the way matter is arranged and proceeds the tiny level, and supported ground-breaking colloid research, plant studies, and thermophysics experiments.
Tiny structures, assemble: The InSPACE-4 physics study is returning samples that might offer insight into how to harness nanoparticles to make and manufacture new products, including medical diagnostics and thermal shields for Earth and space applications.
Cell signaling in microgravity: The ESA (European Space Agency) examination Cytoskeleton adds to understanding of how the body reacts to microgravity. The research study could support development of countermeasures to assist astronaut team members preserve maximum health on future space missions.