SpaceX Dragon Arrives at ISS With Pioneering Science Experiments and Solar Arrays

The International Space Station (ISS) has welcomed the arrival of the SpaceX Dragon, marking NASA’s 28th resupply mission. On board the Dragon spacecraft are a diverse range of experiments, including IROSAs, designed to enhance the station’s energy production. The scientific studies encompass investigations on thunderstorms, plant adaptations in space, telomere behavior, CubeSat experiments monitoring climate change and solar activity, among others. The Dragon is scheduled to remain attached to the ISS for approximately three weeks before returning to Earth with valuable cargo and research findings.

In the early morning hours, while the ISS was traversing the coast of Brazil at an altitude of about 270 miles, the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft autonomously docked with the station’s Harmony module. NASA astronaut Woody Hoburg diligently monitored the docking operations.

The launch of the SpaceX Dragon took place as part of the company’s 28th contracted commercial resupply services mission for NASA. On June 5, at 11:47 a.m. EDT, the Dragon lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Following its successful launch, the Dragon is set to spend roughly three weeks attached to the space station before commencing its return journey to Earth, carrying precious cargo and valuable research data.

A notable delivery from the SpaceX Dragon includes a pair of IROSAs (International Space Station Roll Out Solar Arrays). These cutting-edge solar arrays, once installed, will significantly augment the microgravity complex’s energy-production capabilities.

As of June 6, 2023, the International Space Station boasts an impressive configuration with five docked spaceships, including the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour, the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft, Roscosmos’ Soyuz MS-23 crew ship, and Progress 83 and 84 resupply ships.

Among the remarkable science experiments ferried by the Dragon to the space station, a few noteworthy ones are highlighted below:

1. Thunderstorm Watch:
   The investigation “What Happens Above Thunderstorms” (Thor-Davis), led by the European Space Agency (ESA), aims to observe thunderstorms from the vantage point of the space station. By monitoring electrical activity from above, particularly the inception, frequency, and altitude of recently discovered blue discharges, scientists intend to estimate the energy associated with these phenomena to better understand their impact on the atmosphere. Enhanced knowledge of lightning and electrical activity in Earth’s atmosphere can lead to improved atmospheric models, offering a deeper understanding of our planet’s climate and weather patterns.

2. Helping Plants Adapt in Space:
   Plant Habitat-03 (PH-03) focuses on assessing whether plants grown in space can pass on adaptive changes to subsequent generations. Environmental stress, including spaceflight, triggers modifications in plants, but it remains unclear whether these changes endure and continue across multiple generations or stabilize. By creating a second generation of plants using seeds previously produced in space and returned to Earth, this investigation aims to shed light on the transferability and persistence of adaptations in plants. The results could inform strategies for growing multiple generations of plants during future space missions and aid in adapting crops and economically important plants to challenging environments on Earth.

3. Testing Telomere Behavior:
   The Genes in Space-10 experiment investigates the length of telomeres, genetic structures that safeguard our chromosomes, in the microgravity environment of space. Telomeres typically shorten with age and wear, but previous research has shown that they lengthen in space. By testing a technique for measuring telomere length in microgravity, where conventional Earth-based methods are impractical due to gravity, scientists seek to understand whether telomere lengthening in space is attributed to the proliferation of stem cells. Stem cells, which possess long telomeres, give rise to specific body components. Unraveling the mechanism behind telomere lengthening in space could provide insights into potential effects on astronaut health during long-duration missions and lay the groundwork for related research that benefits future space travel and terrestrial applications. The Genes in Space program, which sponsors this investigation, is a national contest encouraging students in grades 7 through 12 to design biotechnology experiments for space.

4. Thawing Ice, Solar Storms, and Attitude Recovery:
   Mission 26 for the Nanoracks CubeSat Deployer (NRCSD) on the station encompasses the Educational Space Science and Engineering CubeSat Experiment Mission (ESSENCE). Developed by universities in Canada and Australia and sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory, ESSENCE involves multiple objectives. It employs a wide-angle camera to monitor the thawing of ice and permafrost in the Canadian Arctic, aiming to enhance understanding of the impact on Earth’s climate and support improved local infrastructure planning. Additionally, the satellite carries a solar energetic proton detector to gather data on periods of solar activity that emit highly energized radioactive protons, which can potentially damage spacecraft structures and electronic components. By comprehending these effects, scientists can develop more radiation-resistant CubeSats in the future. Moreover, the investigation explores a novel method for recovering control of a satellite’s attitude or orientation in the event of a control mechanism failure. ESSENCE is part of the Canadian CubeSat Project, led by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

5. Watching Cosmic Weathering:
   The Iris project, sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory, investigates the weathering of geological samples exposed to direct solar radiation and background cosmic radiation. This study aims to determine whether these radiation sources induce visually detectable changes in the samples. Iris also demonstrates experimental sun sensors, torque rods (which provide attitude control and detumbling for satellites), and a battery heater. The project is a collaborative effort involving graduate, undergraduate, and middle school students in Canada, offering hands-on experience that fosters interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) studies and careers.

These experiments represent just a glimpse into the vast array of ongoing investigations conducted aboard the ISS in various fields, including biology and biotechnology, physical sciences, Earth science, and space science. The advancements resulting from these endeavors will not only benefit life on Earth but also contribute to the well-being of astronauts during extended space missions. Furthermore, the technologies tested on the ISS will play a crucial role in future human and robotic exploration beyond low Earth orbit, including NASA’s Artemis missions to the Moon and eventually Mars.

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More about space exploration

• NASA – International Space Station
• SpaceX Dragon
• European Space Agency (ESA)
• Genes in Space
• Nanoracks CubeSat Deployer (NRCSD)
• Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
• ISS National Laboratory
• NASA’s Artemis Missions
• NASA – Mars Exploration