SpaceX rocket lifts off from Kennedy Space Centre, giving Space Coast 52nd launch of the year
- The CRS-26 mission lifted off from Launch Pad 39-A on a resupply run to the International Space Station
- A brand-new cargo Dragon spacecraft is carting food, scientific investigation and supplies to the station
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched on Saturday from Kennedy Space Centre on the 52nd successful flight of the year from the Space Coast.
The CRS-26 mission lifted off from Launch Pad 39-A on a resupply run to the International Space Station at 2.20pm.
A brand-new cargo Dragon spacecraft is carting up 7,700 pounds (3,493kg) of food, scientific investigation and supplies to the station, including a pair of roll-out solar arrays to help with power supply.
“Everyone is anxious to see the science kick off as soon as docking occurs,” said Jeff Arend with Nasa’s systems engineering and integration office for the ISS.
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That includes a study that will let the ISS crew grow dwarf tomatoes as part of Nasa’s plans to support long-term human space travel needs. A related investigation called BioNutrients-2 looks to produce on-demand nutrients by using combination of yogurt, a yeast-based drink, and the fermented milk drink kefir.
Several student-led experiments are making the flight as well, including three payloads supported by central Florida non-profit SpaceKids Global and the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council. One of those will investigate how brine shrimp, aka sea monkeys, behave in microgravity.