On Friday, SpaceX successfully launched an unmanned Dragon cargo spacecraft carrying 6,500 pounds of supplies and equipment to the International Space Station (ISS). The cargo includes nearly a ton of research gear, samples, and materials for approximately 50 different scientific investigations.
The launch was delayed by three days due to adverse weather conditions. The Falcon 9 booster ignited at 6:05 p.m. ET, taking off from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. It arced northeast in alignment with the ISS’s orbit.
Two and a half minutes into the journey, the rocket’s first stage, on its sixth flight, separated and landed successfully on a nearby pad. The second stage then continued, deploying the Cargo Dragon independently nine minutes and 20 seconds later.
This was SpaceX’s 638th Falcon 9 launch since the rocket’s introduction in 2010. It marked the company’s 56th launch this year and the 611th successful booster landing. The first stage achieved a flawless touchdown at Landing Zone 40.
Bill Spetch, ISS operations integration manager at Johnson Space Center, highlighted that this mission is the first for a Cargo Dragon spacecraft heading to the ISS for the sixth time. It carries more than 6,000 pounds of cargo, including research experiments and hardware for the Expedition 74 crew.
The mission supports research, such as water purification hardware and investigations into space weather. If all goes as planned, the Cargo Dragon will perform a fully automated docking at the Harmony module’s forward end around 7 a.m. Sunday.
Crew 12, led by Commander Jessica Meir, will unload the spacecraft. The team includes pilot Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. Other Expedition 74 members include Soyuz MS-28 commander Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, cosmonaut Sergey Mikaev, and NASA astronaut Chris Williams.
The Dragon cargo ship serves as a vital supply vessel carrying more than three tons of equipment, including crew clothing, food, vehicle hardware, spacewalk components, computer gear, and research equipment.
Deputy Chief Scientist Liz Warren stressed that the ISS has facilitated over 4,000 scientific experiments and technology demonstrations, engaging more than 5,000 researchers from 110 countries. The station plays a crucial role in global scientific efforts and supports programs like Artemis and future lunar and Mars missions.
Looking ahead, the space station program anticipates a significant milestone in July when the Soyuz MS-29 mission launches from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. Pyotr Dubrov, Anna Kikina, and Anil Menon will join the crew rotation.
Additionally, a Russian Progress cargo ship launch is slated for early September, followed by NASA’s Crew 13 mission on September 12. Crew rotation flights are expected to resume in early 2027.
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