A SpaceX-owned Dragon cargo capsule parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico early Wednesday, returning 4,400 kilos of science gear and {hardware} from the Worldwide Area Station after a 45-day resupply mission.
The gumdrop-shaped cargo capsule splashed down within the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Tampa, Florida, at 5:19 a.m. EST (1019 GMT) Wednesday. The Dragon spacecraft plunged into Earth’s environment over the US, flying from northwest to southeast as temperatures exterior the ship’s warmth defend reached 3,500 levels Fahrenheit (1,900 levels Celsius).
4 most important parachutes opened to sluggish the capsule to a delicate splashdown. SpaceX’s groups primarily based on the restoration ship “Megan” pulled the spacecraft out of the ocean for a visit again to Port Canaveral, Florida, the place the Dragon capsule will probably be transported to a refurbishment facility at Cape Canaveral Area Pressure Station for preparations for a future mission.
The Dragon spacecraft returned to Earth with a protecting vest that was examined by astronauts on the Worldwide Area Station to measure how effectively the garment protects in opposition to harmful radiation. The mission additionally introduced house a plant development experiment and different scientific analysis specimens.
The capsule additionally hauled house excessive stress oxygen and nitrogen gasoline tanks that will probably be refilled on the bottom for a future launch, a catalytic reactor for the station’s life assist system, a stress management and pump meeting for the urine processing system, multifiltration beds for the station’s water processor, a mass spectrometer and hydrogen sensor, and potable water dispenser filters.
The {hardware} will probably be refurbished on the bottom for a future launch again to the Worldwide Area Station.
The Dragon spacecraft undocked from the area station’s Concord module Monday, then fired its Draco thrusters for a sequence of departure burns to again away from the complicated. The departure arrange for a deorbit burn forward of Wednesday morning’s re-entry and splashdown.
The unpiloted provide ship launched Nov. 26 from NASA’s Kennedy Area Middle in Florida, driving a Falcon 9 rocket into orbit to start pursuit of the area station. The Dragon spacecraft autonomously linked up with the station Nov. 27, delivering greater than 7,700 kilos of provides and experiments.
The mission was SpaceX’s twenty sixth resupply flight since 2012 to ship cargo to the area station, and was the primary flight of SpaceX’s latest Cargo Dragon capsule, designated Dragon C211. That is the ultimate reusable Cargo Dragon spacecraft SpaceX plans to construct to fulfill NASA’s cargo transportation wants for the station by means of 2030.
For the trek to the area station, the CRS-26 mission was filled with {hardware}, provides, and experiments for the area station and the seven-person crew dwelling on-board the complicated. The biggest aspect of the cargo load was NASA’s second pair of latest roll-out photo voltaic arrays to reinforce the area station’s energy system.
NASA astronauts Frank Rubio and Josh Cassada accomplished two spacewalks final month to put in the brand new photo voltaic array wings, which can increase the lab’s electrical manufacturing functionality for the subsequent decade. The spacecraft additionally carried vacation meals and treats, and eight CubeSats from groups in Brazil, the US, Canada, Italy, and Taiwan that will probably be deployed later exterior the area station.
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