Names | SpX-25 |
---|---|
Mission type | ISS resupply |
Operator | SpaceX |
COSPAR ID | 2022-081A |
SATCAT no. | 53113 |
Mission duration | 36 days, 18 hours, 9 minutes |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Cargo Dragon C208 |
Spacecraft type | Cargo Dragon |
Bus | SpaceX Dragon 2 |
Manufacturer | SpaceX |
Launch mass | 6,000kg (13,000 lb) |
Dry mass | 9,525 kg (20,999 lb) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 15 July 2022, 00:44:22 UTC [1] |
Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 (B1067.5) |
Launch site | Kennedy Space Center, LC-39A |
End of mission | |
Recovered by | MV Megan |
Landing date | 20 August 2022, 18:53 UTC |
Landing site | Atlantic Ocean |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
Regime | Low Earth orbit |
Inclination | 51.66° |
Docking with ISS | |
Docking port | Harmony forward |
Docking date | 16 July 2022, 15:21 UTC |
Undocking date | 19 August 2022, 15:05 UTC |
Time docked | 33 days, 23 hours, 44 minutes |
SpaceX CRS-25 mission patch |
SpaceX CRS-25, also known as SpX-25, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission (CRS) to the International Space Station (ISS) that was launched on 15 July 2022. The mission was contracted by NASA and was flown by SpaceX using their reusable spacecraft, the Cargo Dragon. The vehicle delivered supplies to the crew aboard the ISS along with multiple pieces of equipment that will be used to conduct multiple research investigations aboard the ISS.
The launch of CRS-25 was delayed to July 11 to investigate issues in the Dragon's propulsion system detected during pre-launch testing. The previously scheduled launch date was June 10.
SpX-25 was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This flight was the 25th resupply flight of cargo sent to the International Space Station.
SpX-25 was launched on July 15, 2022 [2] (0:44 Universal Time) on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. [3] Dragon arrived at ISS on July 16, 2022. The SpX-25 mission lasted 36 days, 18 hours and 9 minutes, coming down off the Florida coast on August 20, 2022. [4]
According to NASA, [5] elevated levels of monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) vapor were detected in the spacecraft's propulsion system, causing the launch mission to be delayed for repairs. The entire affected area of the spacecraft was removed and investigated before proceeding with the launch.
The Cargo Dragon is a cargo spacecraft designed by SpaceX, and it is currently the only spacecraft capable of not only sending cargo into space but also returning cargo back to Earth. [6] It utilizes the Falcon 9 rocket as its launch vehicle which detaches from the Dragon once it reaches orbit. The Cargo Dragon launched with 5,800 lb (2,600 kg) of crew supplies, tools, and scientific equipment to support NASA and ISS research. [7]
This is the third flight of the particular Cargo Dragon unit [8] to space and SpaceX's 25th commercial resupply mission. [2] The Falcon 9 was used to launch SpX-25 into space and is also partially reusable. Various parts of the Falcon 9 are recoverable and relaunched for future supply missions. The Cargo Dragon spacecraft itself is preserved by the parachute-assisted splashdown technique [9] allowing boats to retrieve and reuse parts. Recycling parts of Cargo Dragon and Falcon 9 significantly minimizes the cost to launch crafts into space and optimizes resources for future missions.
SpX-25 hauled $118 million worth of resources [8] and about 4,000 lb (1,800 kg) of supplies. [3] [6]
Four significant studies on board SpX-25 were delivered and researched at the ISS:
As part of the SpX-25 resupply mission, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) developed Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) in order to track the mineral composition of dust on the arid regions of Earth. Dust can have a cooling effect or heating effect depending on its mineral composition. EMIT is a 1-year investigation that will collect images to track and generate maps of dust patterns and provide insight into the local, regional, or global effects of dust as it travels through the atmosphere. [10]
Immunosenescence is the dysfunction and change of the immune system of the elderly and it occurs as a natural part of the aging process. This process is linked to a higher propensity to infection, a higher risk of autoimmune disorders, and an increased risk of malignancies such as cancer. [11] The ISS is conducting research on how microgravity in space might negatively affect these processes to better understand immune system aging and develop treatments to protect astronauts from the possible of microgravity. Additionally, microgravity provides a medium to study immune system aging at an accelerated rate, making it a helpful tool to study immune system aging and find applications on Earth. [11]
CubeSats are a category of research spacecraft called nano-satellites. A CubeSat allows small satellite cargo to fly on rockets headed to space. CubeSats involve small experiments that can be small and inexpensive to build and launch. Their compact functionality broadens accessibility to spacial research and technology development to students, universities, and other related initiatives. [12]
This is one of many experiment launches sent to the ISS on board SpX-25. This study will observe the process of cell-free protein production in microgravity. This study is conducted without the use of living cells and is carried out by using biosensors to detect particular target molecules present in the cell. The success of this study would create low-resource, portable, and low-cost technology for medical applications. [2]
SpaceX CRS-3, also known as SpX-3, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station (ISS), contracted to NASA, which was launched on 18 April 2014. It was the fifth flight for SpaceX's uncrewed Dragon cargo spacecraft and the third SpaceX operational mission contracted to NASA under a Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-1) contract.
SpaceX CRS-4, also known as SpX-4, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station (ISS), contracted to NASA, which was launched on 21 September 2014 and arrived at the space station on 23 September 2014. It was the sixth flight for SpaceX's uncrewed Dragon cargo spacecraft, and the fourth SpaceX operational mission contracted to NASA under a Commercial Resupply Services contract. The mission brought equipment and supplies to the space station, including the first 3D printer to be tested in space, a device to measure wind speed on Earth, and small satellites to be launched from the station. It also brought 20 mice for long-term research aboard the ISS.
SpaceX CRS-6, also known as SpX-6, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station, contracted to NASA. It was the eighth flight for SpaceX's uncrewed Dragon cargo spacecraft and the sixth SpaceX operational mission contracted to NASA under a Commercial Resupply Services contract. It was docked to the International Space Station from 17 April to 21 May 2015.
SpaceX CRS-9, also known as SpX-9, is a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station which launched on 18 July 2016. The mission was contracted by NASA and is operated by SpaceX using a Dragon capsule.
SpaceX CRS-11, also known as SpX-11, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station, launched successfully on 3 June 2017. The mission was contracted by NASA and was flown by SpaceX. The mission utilized a Falcon 9 launch vehicle and was the first reuse of C106, a CRS Dragon cargo vessel that was previously flown on the CRS-4 mission.
SpaceX CRS-13, also known as SpX-13, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station launched on 15 December 2017. The mission was contracted by NASA and is flown by SpaceX. It was the second mission to successfully reuse a Dragon capsule, previously flown on CRS-6. The first stage of the Falcon 9 Full Thrust rocket was the previously flown, "flight-proven" core from CRS-11. The first stage returned to land at Cape Canaveral's Landing Zone 1 after separation of the first and second stage.
SpaceX CRS-15, also known as SpX-15, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station launched 29 June 2018 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The mission was contracted by NASA and flown by SpaceX.
SpaceX CRS-16, also known as SpX-16, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station launched on 5 December 2018 aboard a Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The mission was contracted by NASA and is flown by SpaceX.
SpaceX CRS-19, also known as SpX-19, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station. The mission is contracted by NASA and was flown by SpaceX on a Falcon 9 rocket.
Dragon, also known as Dragon 1 or Cargo Dragon, was a class of fourteen partially reusable cargo spacecraft developed by SpaceX, an American private space transportation company. The spacecraft flew 23 missions between 2010 and 2020. Dragon was launched into orbit by the company's Falcon 9 launch vehicle to resupply the International Space Station (ISS).
SpaceX CRS-21, also known as SpX-21, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station which launched on 6 December 2020. The mission was contracted by NASA and was flown by SpaceX using a Cargo Dragon 2. This was the first flight for SpaceX under NASA's CRS Phase 2 contract awarded in January 2016. This was also the first Cargo Dragon of the new Dragon 2 variant, as well as the first Cargo Dragon flight that was docked at the same time as a Crew Dragon spacecraft. This mission used Booster B1058.4, becoming the first NASA mission to reuse a booster previously used on a non-NASA mission. This was also first time SpaceX launched a NASA payload on a booster with more than one previous flight.
SpaceX CRS-22, also known as SpX-22, was a Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission to the International Space Station (ISS) that launched at 17:29:15 UTC on 3 June 2021. The mission is contracted by NASA and is flown by SpaceX using a Cargo Dragon 2. This is the second flight for SpaceX under NASA's CRS Phase 2 contract awarded in January 2016.
Cygnus NG-15, previously known as OA-15, was the fifteenth launch of the Northrop Grumman robotic resupply spacecraft Cygnus and its fourteenth flight to the International Space Station (ISS) under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract with NASA. The mission launched on 20 February 2021 at 17:36:50 UTC. This is the fourth launch of Cygnus under the CRS-2 contract.
SpaceX CRS-23, also known as SpX-23, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station, successfully launched on 29 August 2021 and docking the following day. The mission was contracted by NASA and was flown by SpaceX using the Cargo Dragon C208. This was the third flight for SpaceX under NASA's CRS Phase 2 contract awarded in January 2016. It was the second mission for this reusable capsule.
SpaceX CRS-24, also known as SpX-24, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station launched on 21 December 2021, at 10:07:08 UTC. The mission is contracted by NASA and is flown by SpaceX using a Cargo Dragon. This is the fourth flight for SpaceX under NASA's CRS Phase 2 contract awarded in January 2016.
SpaceX CRS-26, also known as SpX-26, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station (ISS) launched on 26 November 2022. The mission was contracted by NASA and flown by SpaceX using a Cargo Dragon. This was the sixth flight for SpaceX under NASA's CRS Phase 2 contract awarded in January 2016.
SpaceX CRS-27, also known as SpX-27, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station (ISS) launched on 15 March 2023. The mission was contracted by NASA and was flown by SpaceX using Cargo Dragon C209. This was the seventh flight for SpaceX under NASA's CRS Phase 2.
SpaceX CRS-28, also known as SpX-28, is a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station (ISS) launched on 5 June 2023. The mission was contracted by NASA and flown by SpaceX using Cargo Dragon ship C208. It was the eighth flight for SpaceX under NASA's CRS Phase 2.
SpaceX CRS-29, also known as SpX-29, is a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station (ISS) launched on 10 November 2023. The mission was contracted by NASA and flown by SpaceX using Cargo Dragon C211. It was the ninth flight for SpaceX under NASA's CRS Phase 2.
SpaceX CRS-30, sometimes identified by NASA as SpX-30, was an American cargo spacecraft flight to the International Space Station (ISS), that launched on 21 March 2024. It was operated by SpaceX under a Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract with NASA. The spacecraft is a Cargo Dragon, serial number C209, which made its fourth flight on this mission. This mission was the first Cargo Dragon to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 since the second generation capsule was introduced on the SpaceX CRS-21 mission. In that time, a tower and access arm were added to the pad, allowing late loading of supplies into the spacecraft.