May 17, 2024

SpaceX Dragon Departure Delayed Again As Microgravity Research Continues on Space Station

NASA astronaut and Expedition 70 Flight Engineer Loral OHara displays research hardware supporting the UMAMI, or Understanding of Microgravity on Animal-Microbe Interaction, space biology experiment. OHara is holding the Advanced Space Experiment Processor (ADSEP) Fluid Processing Cassette (FPC) that supports the observation of the effects of spaceflight on the molecular and chemical interactions in between advantageous microorganisms and their animal hosts. Credit: NASA
The Expedition 70 crew continues loading the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft while likewise keeping up microgravity research study for NASA and its partners to advance mankind on Earth and in area.
NASA and SpaceX are holding off the Friday, December 15, undocking of a SpaceX Dragon freight resupply spacecraft from the International Space Station (ISS) due to undesirable climate condition as an outcome of a cold front travelling through the splashdown zones off the coast of Florida.
Joint teams continue to evaluate climate condition to identify the best opportunity for Dragon to autonomously undock from the space station with the next available opportunity no earlier than 5:05 p.m. EST Saturday, December 16.

The SpaceX Dragon freight craft approaches the International Space Station for an automated docking. Both spacecraft were orbiting 259 miles above the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan at the time of this picture from the orbital outpost. Credit: NASA
Weather condition allowing for the Saturday undocking, coverage of Dragons departure will begin at 4:45 p.m. on the NASA+ streaming service through the web or the NASA app. Coverage also will air reside on NASA Television, YouTube, and on the agencys site. Discover how to stream NASA TELEVISION through a range of platforms consisting of social media.
After returning to Earths atmosphere, the spacecraft will sprinkle down off the coast of Florida, which will not be relayed on NASA TELEVISION. Follow updates on return intend on the firms area station blog.
Astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli of NASA and Satoshi Furukawa of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) continued protecting bags loaded with return cargo and disposed of items inside Dragon for the undocking and go back to Earths gravity. Moghbeli likewise signed up with NASA astronaut Loral OHara and tended to biological samples on the station that will quickly be stowed aboard Dragon.
ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut and Expedition 70 Commander Andreas Mogensen works on the Aquamembrane-3 technology presentation in the International Space Stations Harmony module. The examination checks out the pollutant rejection and water transportation capabilities of sophisticated life support devices that may benefit future area missions and minimize water deficiency in dry conditions on Earth. Credit: NASA
Commander Andreas Mogensen of ESA (European Space Agency) turned his attention to the Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft scheduled to leave later this month. Moghbeli joined Mogensen readying the private cargo craft for its robotic detachment from the Unity module and release back into Earth orbit for descent.
A large selection of area science to enhance life for astronauts in space and people on Earth is ongoing aboard the orbiting laboratory. The seven space station citizens explored how weightlessness affects plant life, robotics, and more.
OHara operated in the Kibo lab module including water to the Advanced Plant Habitat to prepare for an upcoming experiment observing how microgravity affects a plants resistance system. Furukawa set up a pair of toaster-sized, Astrobee robotic free-flyers and checked their ability to autonomously dock with each other.
Animation of Astrobees on the area station. Credit: NASA
Cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub joined each other at the beginning of their shift and took turns pedaling on a workout cycle. The Roscosmos flight engineers assisted each other connected electrodes to each other and gathered blood pressure measurements throughout the regular physical fitness assessment. Flight Engineer Konstantin Borisov also took part in the workout test at the end of his shift.
Kononenko later joined Borisov in the afternoon checking a centrifuge and an incubator holding egg samples for an area biology research study. Chub concluded his day dealing with the Elektron oxygen generator and altering out smoke detectors.
Axiom Space has actually revealed the launch date for its 3rd personal astronaut objective to the station no earlier than January 9, from Florida. Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria will lead Pilot Walter Villadei and Mission Specialists Alper Gezeravci and Marcus Wandt aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and stay aboard the orbital outpost for a two-week research study objective.

NASA astronaut and Expedition 70 Flight Engineer Loral OHara reveals off research study hardware supporting the UMAMI, or Understanding of Microgravity on Animal-Microbe Interaction, space biology experiment. OHara is holding the Advanced Space Experiment Processor (ADSEP) Fluid Processing Cassette (FPC) that supports the observation of the results of spaceflight on the molecular and chemical interactions in between helpful microbes and their animal hosts. The SpaceX Dragon freight craft approaches the International Space Station for an automated docking. ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut and Expedition 70 Commander Andreas Mogensen works on the Aquamembrane-3 innovation presentation in the International Space Stations Harmony module. The investigation checks out the contaminant rejection and water transportation abilities of sophisticated life support devices that may benefit future area objectives and lower water shortage in dry conditions on Earth.