The trusty Falcon 9 is packed with 6,504 pounds of supplies destined for the International Space Station, including experiments like NASA’s ILLUMA-T project, which will test laser communications from space, and the Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE), which will explore atmospheric gravity waves and their effects on Earth’s weather and climate.
SpaceX is set to launch its 29th commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, November 9, at 8:28 p.m. ET. As per usual, the launch will take place from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft will carry a total mass of 2.9 metric tons, which includes various science and engineering experiments destined for the space station, in addition to food, supplies, and equipment.
The live broadcast of the launch will begin at 8:00 p.m. ET on NASA TV, NASA’s YouTube channel, the NASA app, and right here at Gizmodo (see the live feed below). The weather forecast suggests a 95% chance of favorable conditions for the launch.
The Dragon spacecraft is expected to dock with the forward-facing port of the station’s Harmony module at 5:21 a.m. ET on Saturday, November 11. The SpaceX capsule will remain attached to the orbital lab for around a month, after which time it’ll return to Earth carrying research and cargo, culminating in a splashdown off the coast of Florida.
Among the scientific payloads is NASA’s ILLUMA-T project, a laser-based communication system that could revolutionize data transmission from space by providing faster, more efficient means than traditional radio waves. This could be particularly beneficial for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
The mission will also transport the Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE), which studies atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) to better understand their effects on Earth’s climate and space weather. These insights could improve climate change predictions and our response to the impact of space weather on our communication and navigation systems. Another key experiment is a NASA study investigating the impacts of spaceflight on ovulation and bone health, which could provide important health insights for both astronauts and people on Earth.
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Aquamembrane-3 experiment will test an advanced water filtration technology. This technology could enhance water purification on the ISS and has potential applications in challenging environments on Earth. Finally, the Gaucho Lung research will explore mucus behavior in microgravity and its implications for drug delivery in the lungs, with the potential to improve respiratory treatments and contamination management in various industries.
This mission marks the 77th flight of Falcon 9 this year, reflecting SpaceX’s continued presence as a dominant player in the spaceflight industry.
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