The SpaceX Dragon cargo vessel has initiated an automated docking sequence with the International Space Station (ISS) after leaving NASA’s Kennedy Space Center less than 24 hours ago. Its payload includes over 7,000 pounds of scientific experiments, ISS equipment, and provisions for the crew. The last vestiges of an orbital sunset created a striking backlight for the cloud cover as both spacecraft traveled 259 miles above the Pacific Ocean near Japan’s coastline. NASA provided the image credit.
Expedition 69 crew members have started the unpacking process of the cargo brought by the SpaceX Dragon, which prominently includes roll-out solar arrays for the ISS. Following the docking process with the Harmony module, the payload—comprising more than 7,000 pounds of scientific equipment and supplies—will be overseen by flight engineers from both NASA and the UAE. The Canadarm2 robotic arm will help in preparing the solar arrays for installation during a pre-scheduled spacewalk, with the crew juggling between preparation tasks and ongoing scientific operations.
Members of Expedition 69 have accessed the interior of the SpaceX Dragon cargo vessel and initiated unpacking the extensive cargo contained within. Among the supplies are a pair of roll-out solar arrays that are due for installation on the ISS during the forthcoming spacewalk.
The Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS’s Harmony module at 5:54 a.m. EDT on Monday, less than a day after its launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The Dragon’s hatch was opened under two hours later, following a routine check for air and pressure leaks. Soon thereafter, Flight Engineers Frank Rubio, Stephen Bowen, and Woody Hoburg of NASA, and Sultan Alneyadi of UAE, began unloading the more than 7,000 pounds of cargo that consisted of scientific experiments, ISS equipment, and crew supplies.
Ground control will also guide the Canadarm2 robotic arm to extract a pair of roll-out solar arrays stored within the Dragon’s unpressurized trunk. Canadarm2, controlled remotely, will delicately relocate the solar arrays and temporarily store them on a pallet attached to the station’s starboard-side truss structure. This robotic transfer readies the solar arrays for installation and activation on the starboard truss structure during a spacewalk scheduled to commence at 9:15 a.m. on Friday.
The SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft, presently docked to the space-facing port on the ISS’s Harmony module, brought four Axiom Mission-2 astronauts to the orbital laboratory on May 22, 2023, including Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot John Shoffner, and Mission Specialists Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi. NASA provided the image credit.
On Friday, Bowen and Hoburg are set to install the station’s fifth set of roll-out solar arrays during the spacewalk. On Wednesday morning, the two astronauts began by organizing the necessary tools and going through the procedures they will use during the seven-hour spacewalk. Rubio and Alneyadi, tasked with aiding the spacewalkers from inside the station, also took part in the tool work and procedure review. The team will reconvene on Thursday for final preparations, including a final review of the spacewalk procedures, a last robotics overview, and a meeting with ground-based mission specialists.
Amid the preparation for Wednesday’s spacewalk, the four astronauts also performed other duties, including conducting science experiments and maintaining lab operations. Bowen used standard optometry equipment, similar to those found in a terrestrial doctor’s office, and captured images of Hoburg’s eyes for a human research study. Rubio continued unpacking Dragon while Alneyadi performed test runs with an Astrobee robotic free-flying assistant.
Meanwhile, the three cosmonauts on the station engaged in a day filled with research, electronics maintenance, and cargo duties in the Roscosmos segment of the orbiting lab. Commander Sergey Prokopyev and Flight Engineer Andrey Fedyaev alternately wore a sensor-packed cap that tracked their brain activity while they practiced futuristic robotic and spacecraft piloting techniques on a computer. Flight Engineer Dmitri Petelin spent the day testing power and data cables in the Zvezda service module before moving cargo from the ISS Progress 84 space freighter.
Your consent is required for the use of Google Analytics and related cookies across the TrendMD network (widget, website, blog). Learn more
Yes No
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about SpaceX Dragon Cargo Delivery
What was the cargo on the SpaceX Dragon?
The SpaceX Dragon was carrying over 7,000 pounds of cargo which included scientific experiments, International Space Station (ISS) hardware, and crew supplies. One of the significant components of the cargo were roll-out solar arrays for the ISS.
Where and when did the SpaceX Dragon launch from?
The SpaceX Dragon launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. It docked with the ISS’s Harmony module less than a day after its launch.
Who is managing the cargo brought by the SpaceX Dragon?
The cargo brought by the SpaceX Dragon is being managed by flight engineers from NASA and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
What is the role of the Canadarm2 robotic arm in this mission?
The Canadarm2 robotic arm assists in preparing the roll-out solar arrays for installation during the scheduled spacewalk. It also extracts the solar arrays stowed inside Dragon’s unpressurized trunk and maneuvers them for temporary storage on the ISS.
What is the purpose of the upcoming spacewalk?
The upcoming spacewalk is planned for the installation of the roll-out solar arrays brought by the SpaceX Dragon. This is the fifth set of such arrays to be installed on the ISS.
Who are the astronauts participating in the spacewalk?
The two astronauts participating in the spacewalk are Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg. They are being assisted from inside the station by Frank Rubio and Sultan Alneyadi.
Are there other activities being carried out on the ISS besides the spacewalk preparation?
Yes, besides preparing for the spacewalk, the astronauts are also running science experiments and maintaining lab operations. Other duties include unpacking the SpaceX Dragon and testing robotic assistants.
More about SpaceX Dragon Cargo Delivery
- SpaceX Official Website
- NASA’s International Space Station
- Information on Canadarm2
- SpaceX Dragon Wikipedia Page
- Roll-Out Solar Arrays
- NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
