![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/the-spacex-crew-dragon-endeavour-departs-the-international-space-station.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>NASA and its international partners are set to receive scientific research samples and hardware as a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft departs the International Space Station on Thursday, Dec. 5, for its return to Earth.<\/p>\n
NASA\u2019s live coverage of undocking and departure begins at 10:50 a.m. EST on NASA+<\/a>. Learn how to watch NASA content<\/a> through a variety of platforms, including social media.<\/p>\n The Dragon spacecraft will undock from the forward port of the space station\u2019s Harmony module at 11:05 a.m., and fire its thrusters to move a safe distance away from the station after receiving a command from ground controllers at SpaceX.<\/p>\n After re-entering Earth\u2019s atmosphere, the spacecraft will splash down off the coast of Florida. NASA will not stream the splashdown and will post updates on the agency\u2019s space station<\/a> blog.<\/p>\n Filled with nearly 6,000 pounds of crew supplies, science investigations, and equipment, the spacecraft arrived to the orbiting laboratory Nov. 5 after it launched Nov. 4 on a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the agency\u2019s SpaceX 31st commercial resupply services mission.<\/p>\n Dragon will carry back to Earth thousands of pounds of supplies and scientific experiments designed to take advantage of the space station\u2019s microgravity environment. Splashing down off the coast of Florida enables quick transportation of the experiments to NASA\u2019s Space Systems Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center, allowing researchers to collect data with minimal sample exposure to Earth\u2019s gravity.<\/p>\n Scientific hardware and samples returning to Earth include GISMOS<\/a> (Genes in Space Molecular Operations and Sequencing), which successfully conducted in-orbit sequencing of microbial DNA from the space station water system, and marks the first real look at the microbial population of the water system. In addition, SpaceTED<\/a> (Space Tissue Equivalent Dosimeter) returns to Earth after collecting data on crew radiation exposure and characterizes the space radiation environment. The dosimeter is a student-developed technology demonstration and effectively operated for 11 months on station \u2013 six months longer than intended because of its success.<\/p>\n Additionally, two specimens printed with ESA\u2019s (European Space Agency) Metal 3D Printer<\/a>, will go to researchers for post-processing and analysis. Researchers will compare the specimens printed in microgravity with those printed on Earth. The goal is to demonstrate the capability to perform metal deposition, or the layering of metals, in 3D under sustained microgravity conditions and manufacture test specimens. Researchers aim to understand the performance and limitations of the chosen technology and become familiar with crewed and remote operations of the instrument onboard a space habitat.<\/p>\n Also returning on spacecraft is the International Space Art and Poetry Contest<\/a>, which invited students and educators around the world to submit drawings, paintings, or poems. Winning art submissions were printed on station, photographed in the cupola, and will be returned to their creators on Earth. In addition, Plasmonic Bubbles<\/a> researchers will observe high-speed video of bubble behavior in microgravity to understand fundamental processes that occur on a heated bubble surface. Results may improve understanding of how molecules are deposited on bubble surfaces and enhance detection methods for health care and environmental industries.<\/p>\n For more than two decades, people have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge, and making research breakthroughs that are not possible on Earth. The station is a critical testbed for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight and to expand commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit. As commercial companies focus on providing human space transportation services and destinations as part of a robust\u00a0low Earth orbit economy<\/a>, NASA is focusing more resources on deep space missions to the Moon as part of its Artemis campaign in preparation for future human missions to Mars.<\/p>\n Get breaking news, images and features from the space station on Instagram<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, and X<\/a>.<\/p>\n Learn more about the International Space Station at:<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n -end-<\/p>\n Claire O\u2019Shea \/ Joshua Finch Sandra Jones
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
claire.a.o\u2019shea@nasa.gov<\/a> \/ joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\nShare<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n