SpaceX’s Dragon Faces Weather Delay: ISS Crew Remains Busy
In the midst of a picturesque nighttime view spanning from Milan, Italy, to Split, Croatia, across the Adriatic Sea, the International Space Station (ISS) orbits serenely, located 263 miles above eastern France, as captured in a NASA photograph.
Within the confines of the ISS, the Expedition 70 crew members are diligently preparing a U.S. cargo spacecraft for its upcoming departure, scheduled for early next week. Concurrently, the station’s seven residents are engaged in a spectrum of activities, including virtual reality experiences and maintenance work on various science and life support equipment.
However, an important update from NASA and SpaceX has altered the mission’s schedule. The planned undocking of the SpaceX Dragon cargo resupply spacecraft from the ISS on Sunday, December 17, has been postponed due to adverse weather conditions caused by the passage of a cold front in the splashdown zones off the coast of Florida.
Joint teams comprising NASA and SpaceX personnel are closely monitoring the weather conditions to determine the optimal window for Dragon’s autonomous undocking from the space station. The earliest possible opportunity for undocking is now set for 5:05 p.m. EST on Monday, December 18.
Should weather conditions permit the Monday undocking, viewers can tune in to the coverage of Dragon’s departure, which will commence at 4:45 p.m. on the NASA+ streaming service, accessible via the web or the NASA app. Live coverage will also be available on NASA Television, YouTube, and the agency’s official website. However, it’s worth noting that the spacecraft’s re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere and its subsequent splashdown off the coast of Florida will not be broadcast on NASA TV.
Astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli of NASA and Satoshi Furukawa of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) have been actively involved in transferring science-packed cargo freezers from the station’s EXPRESS racks into Dragon. They have meticulously configured the science freezers within Dragon to ensure the preservation of biological samples for later retrieval and analysis on Earth.
Among their tasks, Moghbeli undertook hardware replacements inside the Solution Crystallization Observation Facility, a research apparatus dedicated to investigating crystal morphology and growth. She also conducted experiments involving mixture tubes containing seed samples for a space botany study. Furukawa, on the other hand, focused on reestablishing power and communications connections within combustion research hardware situated in the Kibo laboratory module.
Commander Andreas Mogensen from ESA (European Space Agency) commenced his day with an experiment aimed at enhancing computer programming skills and fostering STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers for students on Earth. Later, he donned virtual reality goggles and experienced a 360-degree movie, designed to evaluate its stabilizing effect on the nervous system as part of the VR Mental Care experiment.
NASA Flight Engineer Loral O’Hara dedicated her day to lab maintenance tasks throughout the orbital outpost. Her activities included the replacement of orbital plumbing components and the deployment of a portable fan inside the Tranquility module. Additionally, she swapped out a malfunctioning wireless antenna in the Unity module.
The space station’s three cosmonauts maintained their focus on a diverse array of scientific activities and orbital systems maintenance. Flight Engineers Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub resumed their ultrasound scans of their stomachs, part of a Roscosmos space digestion study, following breakfast. Kononenko also tended to eggs inside an incubator as part of a biology experiment, while Chub transferred dismantled life support equipment from the Zarya module to the Unity module. Flight Engineer Konstantin Borisov spent his morning on orbital plumbing tasks and concluded the day with the inspection and photography of windows on the Zvezda service module.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about SpaceX Dragon Weather Delay
What caused the delay in the SpaceX Dragon’s undocking from the ISS?
The delay in the undocking of the SpaceX Dragon cargo resupply spacecraft from the ISS was primarily caused by unfavorable weather conditions. Specifically, a cold front passing through the splashdown zones off the coast of Florida created conditions that were not conducive to a safe undocking and splashdown.
When is the next scheduled undocking attempt for the SpaceX Dragon?
The next scheduled undocking attempt for the SpaceX Dragon is set for no earlier than 5:05 p.m. EST on Monday, December 18, provided that weather conditions permit safe operations.
Where can I watch coverage of Dragon’s departure?
You can watch coverage of Dragon’s departure starting at 4:45 p.m. on the NASA+ streaming service, which is accessible via the web or the NASA app. Additionally, live coverage will be available on NASA Television, YouTube, and the official NASA website. However, it’s important to note that the spacecraft’s re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere and splashdown off the coast of Florida will not be broadcast on NASA TV.
What tasks are the astronauts on the ISS currently engaged in?
The astronauts on the International Space Station are involved in a variety of activities, including transferring science-packed cargo freezers from the station’s EXPRESS racks into Dragon. They are also configuring science freezers within Dragon to preserve biological samples for retrieval and analysis on Earth. Additionally, they are conducting experiments related to crystal growth, space botany, and combustion research. The crew members are also engaged in educational and virtual reality experiments, as well as routine maintenance tasks on the station’s equipment and systems.
How is the weather being monitored for Dragon’s undocking?
Joint teams composed of personnel from NASA and SpaceX are continuously evaluating weather conditions to determine the safest window for Dragon’s autonomous undocking from the space station. Weather data and forecasts are carefully analyzed to ensure the safety of the spacecraft and its crew during the departure and splashdown operations.
More about SpaceX Dragon Weather Delay
- NASA’s Official Website
- SpaceX’s Official Website
- International Space Station (ISS) Information
- Dragon Cargo Resupply Mission Details
- NASA TV Live Stream
