A few hours ago, the SpaceX Dragon 2 spacecraft blasted off atop a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in its CRS-29 (Cargo Resupply Service 29) mission, also referred to as SPX-29. After almost exactly 12 minutes it separated successfully from the rocket’s last stage and went en route. This is the 29th mission for the Dragon/Dragon 2 spacecraft to resupply the International Space Station with various cargoes and then return to Earth, again with various cargoes.
The Dragon 2 spacecraft’s cargo is more than 2,900 kg (about 6,500 lbs) between the pressurized and the non-pressurized section. There are about 680 kg (about 1,000 lbs) of food and other supplies for the International Space Station crew but most of the cargo consists of instruments, hardware, and various other materials needed for science experiments and research conducted aboard the Station.
ILLUMA-T (Integrated Laser Communications Relay Demonstration Low-Earth-Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal) is a laser communications instrument with ultra-high data transfer via NASA’s LCRD (Laser Communications Relay Demonstration). It’s part of the agency’s program to develop ultra-high-speed laser communications systems.
AWE (Atmospheric Waves Experiment) will be used to study gravity waves – not to be confused with gravitational waves! – in the atmosphere to understand the flow of energy through the upper atmosphere and space.
Among the medical research is Space Flight Induced Ovarian and Estrogen Signaling Dysfunction, Adaptation, and Recovery, which aims to study the effects of the microgravity environment and space travel on ovulation and the consequences on the skeleton.
Aquamembrane-3 is an ESA experiment that aims to replace the current filtration system used for water recovery on the International Space Station with a type of membrane called Aquaporin Inside Membrane (AIM). This membrane incorporates aquaporins, proteins of a type found in cells, which are supposed to filter water more quickly and use less energy.
This Dragon 2 space cargo is on its second mission as it’s the same one used in the CRS-26 mission. Its arrival at the station is scheduled for Saturday: around 10.20 AM UTC it will dock at the Station with an automated manoeuvre.
