NASA and SpaceX are gearing up for the departure of the 31st commercial resupply mission from the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, Dec. 5. The Dragon spacecraft, which arrived at the ISS on Nov.
5, will carry back nearly 6,000 pounds of supplies, scientific investigations, and equipment. The crew, led by commander Sunita Williams, has been busy preparing the completed experiments for their return to Earth. Williams and Flight Engineer Don Pettit transferred research samples from the station’s science freezers into portable Polar freezers, which will be installed inside the Dragon capsule.
Williams also worked with Flight Engineer Nick Hague to secure additional cargo for retrieval and analysis upon their return. Among the key scientific returns are the Genes in Space experiment, which involved the in-orbit sequencing of microbial DNA from the ISS water system, and the Space Tissue Equivalent Dosimeter, a student-developed technology that collected data on crew radiation exposure. The Dragon will also bring back metal 3D printing specimens from the European Space Agency (ESA) and high-speed video of bubble behavior under microgravity conditions.
Dragon returns with research samples
In addition to packing samples, Pettit and Flight Engineer Butch Wilmore processed bacteria samples within the Kibo and Harmony modules to study why certain pathogens exhibit increased potency in microgravity. These samples will also be included in the cargo returning to Earth.
Williams is setting up components within the Advanced Plant Habitat to support an upcoming experiment that examines how varying water levels influence plant growth in space. This research could lead to improved methods for cultivating food both on Earth and during long-duration space missions. NASA’s live coverage of the Dragon’s undocking and departure will begin at 10:50 a.m. EST on Dec.
5. The spacecraft is scheduled to undock from the Harmony module’s forward port at 11:05 a.m. and will splash down off the coast of Florida the following day. The ISS has been a hub of continuous human habitation and scientific research for more than two decades, providing a unique environment for experiments not possible on Earth.
As NASA focuses on deep space missions, including the Artemis campaign, commercial companies like SpaceX are increasingly taking the lead in providing human space transportation services and destinations.
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