Latest news with #MISSE-20
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Business Standard
26-05-2025
- Science
- Business Standard
Sonic boom marks SpaceX Dragon's return to earth after ISS cargo mission
SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific off California's coast, marking the end of a successful cargo mission to the space station. The uncrewed capsule completed the 32nd commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA. The spacecraft is designed for low gravity, carrying nearly 6,700 pounds of supplies. It had undocked from the space station's Harmony module on May 23 at 12.05 pm, ready to deliver its cargo back to Earth. SpaceX Dragon returned to Earth with a sonic boom Southern California's most regions felt the shaking from a brief sonic boom created as SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft re-entered Earth's atmosphere on Saturday night. SpaceX shared a post on X announcing that the spacecraft Dragon would return to Earth with a short sonic boom before landing in the Pacific region. The post reads, "Dragon is on track to reenter Earth's atmosphere and splash down off the southern coast of California near Oceanside at ~10:44 p.m. PT." Several people took to social media after they heard the boom sound on Saturday. Many people shared a video of the bright streak across the night sky as the Dragon's flight continued over the Golden State. Testing materials and advancing robotic tech in space The mission brought back valuable hardware from the MISSE-20 experiment. The test checked the endurance of different materials in the extreme environment of space. Exposed to ultraviolet radiation, atomic oxygen, and charged particles, items like solar sails, radiation shields, and reentry ceramics underwent rigorous testing. These insights will play a vital role in shaping the next generation of spacecraft materials. Another significant return was Astrobee-REACCH, a robotic test system equipped with gripping arms and sticky adhesive pads. These Astrobee robots successfully manipulated objects of various shapes in microgravity. Their capabilities could prove essential for future missions—clearing orbital debris, maintaining old satellites, and enhancing overall safety in space operations. Books, cameras, and clearer views of Earth Also aboard were books from the 'Story Time from Space' initiative, where astronauts read STEM-focused stories to children on Earth. While floating in orbit, they conducted science experiments alongside the readings. These videos and learning materials are now part of an educational resource library back on Earth. The mission also carried back data and hardware from OPTICA, a year-long demonstration project that tested cutting-edge space imaging technology. With its focus on high-resolution visuals and data compression techniques, OPTICA could significantly cut the costs of satellite communications and enhance disaster response systems using clearer, faster space-based imagery. From launchpad to learning: A mission timeline This Dragon capsule launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on April 21 and docked with the ISS a day later, on April 22. The ISS has now been continuously inhabited for over 24 years. It remains a vital platform for scientific research and commercial innovation in low Earth orbit. Each mission not only advances our understanding of space but also lays the groundwork for future exploration, including NASA's Artemis program and the eventual goal of reaching Mars.
India Today
26-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
Video: Fiery SpaceX Dragon streaks across sky after undocking from Space Station
A spectacular sight lit up the night sky as SpaceX's unpiloted Dragon spacecraft re-entered Earth's atmosphere, creating a fiery streak visible for miles before splashing down off the southern California dramatic return marked the end of SpaceX's 32nd commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA, with the Dragon capsule carrying back a trove of scientific samples and undocking from the ISS's Harmony module, Dragon spent nearly two days in orbit before its high-speed descent. Residents across Southern California reported seeing the brilliant trail and hearing a brief sonic boom as the capsule blazed through the atmosphere as it went through intense heat and friction generated during spacecraft returned with over 3,000 kilogram of cargo, including critical scientific experiments that benefited from the station's unique microgravity the returned items was MISSE-20, a suite of materials exposed to the harsh conditions of space to test their resilience against radiation, atomic oxygen, and extreme temperature findings are expected to inform the development of future spacecraft shielding and heat-resistant are the first drogue parachutes built entirely in-house by SpaceX. Tested earlier this year, they include key data-driven upgrades such as stronger joints and ribbons and a re-positioned pack for smoother deployment and inflation SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 25, 2025advertisementAlso aboard was the Astrobee-REACCH demonstration, featuring a robot with tentacle-like arms and adhesive pads designed to grasp and relocate objects in technology could one day help capture space debris or service satellites, extending their operational lifespans and protecting valuable assets in low Earth cargo included books from the Story Time from Space project, where astronauts read STEM-themed children's books on the ISS, as well as data from the OPTICA technology demonstration, which tested advanced image compression for faster, more efficient Earth observation data Watch
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
NASA and SpaceX reschedule Dragon capsule departure from ISS to May 23
NASA and SpaceX have officially rescheduled the undocking of the Dragon cargo capsule from the International Space Station ( ISS ) to May 23, after poor weather conditions at the splashdown site prompted a delay. Originally planned for May 22, the departure is now set for 12:05 p.m. EDT on Friday. The capsule, part of the CRS-32 mission , has been docked at the station since April 22 and is scheduled to return to Earth carrying scientific experiments and supplies. NASA will livestream the undocking event on its NASA+ platform, beginning at 11:45 a.m. EDT. What is CRS-32 mission of SpaceX and NASA The CRS-32 mission is the 32nd cargo delivery flight operated by SpaceX under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services program. Launched on April 21 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, the Dragon capsule arrived at the ISS a day later. It delivered approximately 6,700 pounds of food, hardware, and scientific research material. What is the reason for delay by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Keep Your Home Efficient with This Plug-In elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo The departure was initially scheduled for May 22, but unfavorable weather at the Pacific Ocean splashdown zone forced the teams to postpone the undocking. Safety protocols require suitable sea conditions to ensure a smooth recovery of the spacecraft and its cargo. SpaceX and NASA are now targeting May 23, anticipating improved weather conditions for re-entry and splashdown operations. Return cargo and experiments The Dragon capsule will bring back a variety of scientific experiments, including samples from NASA's MISSE-20 materials study, which evaluates how different materials withstand space conditions. Also on board are the Astrobee robotic assistant, technology demonstration hardware such as the REACCH system, and other items no longer needed on the station. Some non-recyclable waste will also be disposed of on re-entry. Undocking and splashdown timeline If undocking proceeds as planned at 12:05 p.m. EDT on May 23, the Dragon capsule will slowly maneuver away from the station. It will conduct a series of orbital adjustments before beginning its deorbit burn. The capsule is expected to splash down off the California coast early Sunday morning, May 25. Although NASA will broadcast the undocking live, the splashdown itself will not be webcast. Unique capabilities of Dragon SpaceX's Dragon is currently the only operational cargo spacecraft capable of returning significant payloads safely to Earth. Other supply vehicles like Northrop Grumman's Cygnus and Russia's Progress are designed to burn up during reentry. This return capability makes Dragon essential for transporting completed experiments, station hardware, and other valuable cargo back to Earth. As part of an ongoing partnership between NASA and SpaceX, Dragon missions like CRS-32 support continuous research and resupply operations aboard the ISS. With future flights already scheduled, including both cargo and crewed missions, the success of each Dragon capsule recovery helps ensure reliability and continuity in space logistics.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
NASA Sets Coverage for 32nd SpaceX Resupply Mission Departure
WASHINGTON, May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA and its international partners will soon receive scientific research samples and hardware after a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft departs the International Space Station on Thursday, May 22, for its return to Earth. Live coverage of undocking and departure begins at 11:45 a.m. EDT on NASA+. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media. The Dragon spacecraft will undock from the zenith, or space-facing, port of the station's Harmony module at 12:05 p.m. and fire its thrusters to move a safe distance away from the station under command by SpaceX's Mission Control in Hawthorne, California. After re-entering Earth's atmosphere, the spacecraft will splash down on Friday, May 23, off the coast of California. NASA will post updates on the agency's space station blog. There is no livestream video of the splashdown. Filled with nearly 6,700 pounds of supplies, science investigations, equipment, and food, the spacecraft arrived at the space station on April 22 after launching April 21 on a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the agency's SpaceX 32nd commercial resupply services mission. Some of the scientific hardware and samples Dragon will return to Earth include MISSE-20 (Multipurpose International Space Station Experiment), which exposed various materials to space, including radiation shielding and detection materials, solar sails and reflective coatings, ceramic composites for reentry spacecraft studies, and resins for potential use in heat shields. Samples were retrieved on the exterior of the station and can improve knowledge of how these materials respond to ultraviolet radiation, atomic oxygen, charged particles, thermal cycling, and other factors. Additionally, Astrobee-REACCH (Responsive Engaging Arms for Captive Care and Handling) is returning to Earth after successfully demonstrating grasping and relocating capabilities on the space station. The REACCH demonstration used Astrobee robots to capture space objects of different geometries or surface materials using tentacle-like arms and adhesive pads. Testing a way to safely capture and relocate debris and other objects in orbit could help address end-of-life satellite servicing, orbit change maneuvers, and orbital debris removal. These capabilities maximize satellite lifespan and protect satellites and spacecraft in low Earth orbit that provide services to people on Earth. Books from the Story Time from Space project also will return. Crew members aboard the space station read five science, technology, engineering, and mathematics-related children's books in orbit and videotaped themselves completing science experiments. Video and data collected during the readings and demonstrations were downlinked to Earth and were posted in a video library with accompanying educational materials. Hardware and data from a one-year technology demonstration called OPTICA (Onboard Programmable Technology for Image Compression and Analysis) also will return to Earth. The OPTICA technology was designed to advance transmission of real-time, ultra-high-resolution hyperspectral imagery from space to Earth, and it provided valuable insights for data compression and processing that could reduce the bandwidth required for communication, lowering the cost of acquiring data from space-based imaging systems without reducing the volume of data. This technology also could improve services, such as disaster response, that rely on Earth observations. For more than 24 years, people have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge, and conducting critical research for the benefit of humanity and our home planet. Space station research supports the future of human spaceflight as NASA looks toward deep space missions to the Moon under the Artemis campaign and in preparation for future human missions to Mars, as well as expanding commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit and beyond. Learn more about the International Space Station at: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE NASA Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
