Crew Unpacks New Station Science Delivered Aboard Dragon

Crew Unpacks New Station Science Delivered Aboard Dragon

The SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft is pictured from an external space station camera approaching the orbital outpost above Argentina on Tuesday, Nov. 5
The SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft is pictured from an external space station camera approaching the orbital outpost above Argentina on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Credit: NASA+

New science experiments and research samples delivered aboard the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft on Tuesday are being installed today aboard the International Space Station. Meanwhile, more science and lab maintenance continued ensuring the upkeep of the orbital outpost.

The four NASA astronauts representing the Expedition 72 crew, Flight Engineers Don Pettit, Nick Hague, and Butch Wilmore, and Commander Suni Williams, spent the day unloading the research-packed Dragon that arrived on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The quartet quickly transferred the advanced research hardware and temperature-sensitive specimens into the space station and installed them into research racks and cold storage.

Pettit entered Dragon and removed new space biology hardware to explore space-caused inflammation changes then installed it inside the Kibo laboratory module for activation. Hague partnered together with Wilmore and disconnected Dragon’s portable science freezers containing critical science samples then installed them in station EXPRESS racks for upcoming processing and analysis. Williams also participated in the Dragon science hardware transfers before joining Wilmore to unpack frozen research sample bags for stowage in a variety of station science freezers.

The space station’s three cosmonauts, Alexey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner, and Aleksandr Gorbunov, spent Wednesday on their task list of Roscosmos science experiments and lab maintenance.

Ovchinin and Vagner worked together throughout the day in the Zvezda service module setting up an X-ray spectrometer that was delivered aboard the Progress 89 resupply ship on Aug. 17. The duo installed cables and electronics components to support the astrophysics observation study that will be installed outside the orbital lab on a later date. Gorbunov closed out an experimental session observing Earth’s nighttime atmosphere in near-ultraviolet wavelengths then spent the rest of his shift servicing electronics and life support systems.


Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog@space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Mark Garcia

SpaceX Dragon Cargo Spacecraft Docks to Harmony Module

SpaceX Dragon Cargo Spacecraft Docks to Harmony Module

The International Space Station is viewed from a camera aboard the approaching SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft. The SpaceX Dragon Freedom crew spacecraft is pictured (at center) docked to the Harmony module's space-facing port. Credit: NASA+
The International Space Station is viewed from a camera aboard the approaching SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft. The SpaceX Dragon Freedom crew spacecraft is pictured (at center) docked to the Harmony module’s space-facing port. Credit: NASA+

At 9:52 a.m. EST, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to the forward port of the International Space Station’s Harmony module.

The spacecraft carried over 6,000 pounds of scientific investigations and cargo to the orbiting laboratory on SpaceX’s 31st commercial resupply services mission for NASA. The mission launched at 9:29 a.m. Nov. 4 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.


Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog@space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Mark Garcia

Dragon Approaching Station on 31st Cargo Mission

Dragon Approaching Station on 31st Cargo Mission

The SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft approaches the space station for a docking to the Harmony module's space-facing port on March 23, 2024.
The SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft approaches the space station for a docking to the Harmony module’s space-facing port on March 23, 2024.

NASA’s coverage is underway for arrival of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station on NASA+ and the agency’s website. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media.

At approximately 9:55 a.m. EST, Dragon will dock autonomously to the forward port of the space station’s Harmony module.

The spacecraft is carrying over 6,000 pounds of scientific investigations and cargo to the orbiting laboratory on SpaceX’s 31st commercial resupply services mission for NASA. The mission launched at 9:29 p.m. Nov. 4 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.


Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog@space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

Get the latest from NASA delivered every week. Subscribe here: www.nasa.gov/subscribe

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Mark Garcia

NASA’s SpaceX CRS-31: Dragon Launches at 9:29 p.m. EST

NASA’s SpaceX CRS-31: Dragon Launches at 9:29 p.m. EST

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, carrying more than 6,000 pounds of supplies to the orbiting laboratory, lifted off at 9:29 p.m. EST Monday, on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credits: NASA

At 9:29 p.m. EST, over 6,000 pounds of scientific investigations and cargo launched to the International Space Station on the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft for the company’s 31st commercial resupply services mission for NASA. The spacecraft lifted off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

About 9 minutes after launch, Dragon will separate from the rocket’s second stage, open its nosecone, and begin a carefully choreographed series of thruster firings to reach the space station.  

Dragon will arrive at the orbiting outpost at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, and dock autonomously to the forward port of the space station’s Harmony module. 

NASA will provide live coverage of the spacecraft’s arrival beginning at 8:45 a.m. Nov. 5 on NASA+ and the agency’s website. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Stephanie Plucinsky

NASA’s SpaceX CRS-31: Launch Coverage Underway

NASA’s SpaceX CRS-31: Launch Coverage Underway

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the company’s Dragon spacecraft atop, stands in a vertical position at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in preparation for the 31st commercial resupply services launch to the International Space Station.

NASA’s coverage is underway on NASA+ and the agency’s website for the launch of SpaceX’s 31st commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media. 

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is scheduled for liftoff at 9:29 p.m. EST on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 

Filled with more than 6,000 pounds of scientific investigations, food, supplies, and equipment, Dragon will arrive at the orbiting outpost at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, and dock autonomously to the forward port of the space station’s Harmony module.

NASA will provide live coverage of the spacecraft’s arrival beginning at 8:45 a.m. Nov. 5 on NASA+ and the agency’s website.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Stephanie Plucinsky