SpaceX CRS-29

Last updated

SpaceX CRS-29
Iss070e022098.jpg
CRS-29 approaching ISS
NamesSpX-29
Mission type ISS resupply
Operator SpaceX
COSPAR ID 2023-173A OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
SATCAT no. 58255
Mission duration42 days, 16 hours and 5 minutes
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft Cargo Dragon   C211
Spacecraft type Cargo Dragon
Manufacturer SpaceX
Dry mass9,525 kg (20,999 lb)
DimensionsHeight: 8.1 m (27 ft)
Diameter: 4 m (13 ft)
Start of mission
Launch date10 November 2023, 01:28 UTC [1]
Rocket Falcon 9, B1081.2
Launch site Kennedy Space Center, LC-39A
Contractor SpaceX
End of mission
Recovered by MV Shannon
Landing date22 December 2023, 17:33 UTC
Landing site Gulf of Mexico
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit
Regime Low Earth orbit
Inclination 51.66°
Docking with ISS
Docking port Harmony forward
Docking date11 November 2023, 10:07 UTC
Undocking date21 December 2023, 22:05 UTC
Time docked40 days, 11 hours and 58 minutes
SpaceX CRS-29 Patch.png
SpaceX CRS-29 mission Patch
NG-20  
 

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. [2] The mission is contracted by NASA and is scheduled to be flown by SpaceX using Cargo Dragon C211. This will the ninth flight for SpaceX under NASA's CRS Phase 2. [3]

Contents

Cargo Dragon

SpaceX plans to reuse the Cargo Dragons up to five times. The Cargo Dragon will launch without SuperDraco abort engines, without seats, cockpit controls and the life support system required to sustain astronauts in space. [4] [5] Dragon 2 improves on Dragon 1 in several ways, including lessened refurbishment time, leading to shorter periods between flights. [6]

The new Cargo Dragon capsules under the NASA CRS Phase 2 contract will land east of Florida in the Atlantic Ocean. [4] [6]

Launch

NASA and SpaceX originally targeted a window no earlier than 03:01 UTC on Sunday, November 6, 2024, for the launch of the company's 29th commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station. The date shift takes into account required time for teams to complete pad readiness after the agency's Psyche launch on SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, which lifted off on October 13 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. [1] Falcon 9 and the Cargo Dragon spacecraft lifted off on 10 November 2023 at 01:28:14 UTC from Launch Complex 39A. The first stage separated at T+2:21, and Falcon 9 landed at Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at T+7:36. The second stage shut down at T+8:33, and the Dragon spacecraft separated from the second stage at T+11:46.

Payload

NASA contracted for the CRS-29 mission from SpaceX and therefore determines the primary payload, date of launch, and orbital parameters for the Cargo Dragon. [7]

SpaceX CRS-29 carries over 2,950 kg (6,500 lb) of cargo, where 2,381 kg (5,249 lb) are pressurized cargo with packaging and 569 kg (1,254 lb) are unpressurized cargo. [8]

Research

SpaceX's will deliver new science investigations, food, supplies, and equipment to the international crew. The research includes work to understand interactions between weather on Earth and space, and laser communications. NASA's Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) will study atmospheric gravity waves –powerful waves formed by weather disturbances on Earth such as strong thunderstorms or brewing hurricanes – to understand the flow of energy through Earth's upper atmosphere and space. Another experiment – Integrated Laser Communications Relay Demonstration Low-Earth-Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal – (ILLUMA-T) aims to test high data rate laser communications from the space station to Earth. This will complete NASA's first two-way, end-to-end laser relay system by sending high-resolution data to the agency's Laser Communications Relay Demonstration, which launched in December 2021. [9] [10] It will be tested for six months on ISS, before being placed into operational use. [11]

Other investigations that will launch with the resupply mission include ESA's (European Space Agency) Aquamembrane-3, which will test water filtration using proteins found in nature for water recycling and recovery, and Plant Habitat-06, which will evaluate the effects of spaceflight on plant defense responses using multiple genotypes of tomato. [9]

Redwire will be launching microgravity research payloads focused on pharmaceutical drug development and regenerative medicine, including an experiment in bioprinting cardiac tissue. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-3</span> 2014 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-4</span> 2014 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-6</span> 2015 American resupply spaceflight to 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-9</span> 2016 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-10</span> 2017 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

SpaceX CRS-10, also known as SpX-10, was a Dragon Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station (ISS) which launched on 19 February 2017. The mission was contracted by NASA as part of its Commercial Resupply Services program and was launched by SpaceX aboard the 30th flight of the Falcon 9 rocket. The mission ended on 19 March 2017 when the Dragon spacecraft left the ISS and safely returned to Earth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-11</span> 2017 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-12</span> 2017 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

SpaceX CRS-12, also known as SpX-12, was a Commercial Resupply Services mission to the International Space Station launched on 14 August 2017. The mission was contracted by NASA and was flown by SpaceX using a new Dragon capsule. The Falcon 9 rocket's reusable first stage performed a controlled landing on Landing Zone 1 (LZ1) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. After delivering more than 2,900 kilograms (6,400 lb) of cargo, the Dragon spacecraft returned to Earth on 17 September 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-13</span> 2017 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-14</span> 2018 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

SpaceX CRS-14, also known as SpX-14, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station launched on 2 April 2018. The mission was contracted by NASA and was flown by SpaceX. This mission reused the Falcon 9 first stage booster previously flown on CRS-12 and the Dragon capsule flown on CRS-8.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-15</span> 2018 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-16</span> 2018 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-18</span> 2019 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

SpaceX CRS-18, also known as SpX-18, was SpaceX's 18th flight to the International Space Station under the Commercial Resupply Services program for NASA. It was launched on 25 July 2019 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-19</span> 2019 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-20</span> 2020 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

SpaceX CRS-20 (CRS-20), also known as SpaceX-20, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station (ISS) launched on 7 March 2020. The mission was contracted by NASA and was flown by SpaceX using Dragon. This was SpaceX's last flight for Dragon 1 and concluded the NASA Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-1) contract extension.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-21</span> 2020 American resupply spaceflight to the 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-22</span> 2021 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-24</span> 2021 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-25</span> 2022 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-27</span> 2023 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-28</span> 2023 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

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 C208. It was the eighth flight for SpaceX under NASA's CRS Phase 2.

References

  1. 1 2 Garcia, Mark (17 October 2023). "Research, Robotics, and Spacesuits Top Schedule as Spacewalk Times Adjusted". blogs.nasa.gov. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  2. Garcia, Mark (6 March 2023). "Expanded Station Crew Works Together Before Quartet Departure". NASA . Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  3. Reckart, Timothy (15 June 2022). "Microgravity Research Flights". NASA. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  4. 1 2 Office of Inspector General (26 April 2018). Audit of Commercial Resupply Services to the International Space Center (PDF) (Report). Vol. IG-18-016. NASA. pp. 24, 28–30. Retrieved 4 April 2021.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. "Dragon 2 modifications to Carry Cargo for CRS-2 missions". Teslarati. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  6. 1 2 Clark, Stephen (2 August 2019). "SpaceX to begin flights under new cargo resupply contract next year". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  7. "SpaceX Commercial Resupply". ISS Program Office. NASA. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2021.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  8. "NASA's SpaceX CRS-29 Mission Overview" . Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  9. 1 2 "NASA Invites Media to Upcoming SpaceX Resupply Launch to Space Station - NASA" . Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  10. Patrascu, Daniel (30 August 2023). "NASA to Fit Lasers on the Space Station, They're Not for Fighting Aliens". autoevolution. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  11. Vigliarolo, Brandon. "NASA readying hardware for gigabit upgrade to ISS internet". www.theregister.com. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  12. "Redwire BioFabrication Facility Successfully Prints First Human Knee Meniscus on ISS, Paving the Way for Advanced In-Space Bioprinting Capabilities to Benefit Human Health". Yahoo Finance. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.