SpaceX is scheduled to launch the next generation Dragon spacecraft on Sunday at the International Space Station, aptly called Dragon 2. A Falcon 9 with a whole host of science experiments and supplies on board will take the spacecraft to the ISS. The launch, named CRS-21 because it is the company’s 21st mission with NASA for its commercial resupply services (CRS) contract, was scheduled for Saturday, but due to weather conditions it has been postponed.
The Dragon 2 can hold 50 percent more science payloads than its predecessors, according to SpaceX, ensuring it can transport, along with essential materials, more experiments to the ISS. This is extremely exciting, and a video outlining the experiments and supplies that will begin with CRS-21 has been published by NASA.
Several biological experiments at the ISS, including the first COVID-19 drug discovery experiment intended for space, have been explained in the video. An experiment called Bioasteroid will also be on the spacecraft, which will help decide if microorganisms such as fungus could be a viable solution to asteroid mining. Other studies will also be on board using tools such as tissue-on-a-chip and brain organoids. Other studies will also be on board using tools such as tissue-on-a-chip and brain organoids. The spacecraft will also carry an airlock module of the next generation, which will allow payloads to be launched from within the space station directly into space.
On its way to space, the spacecraft will travel on top of a Falcon 9 booster rocket. The unique rocket in question is to be launched for the fourth time and is expected to land in the Atlantic Ocean on one of the SpaceX rocket recovery ships. As always for anyone interested in watching Dragon 2 making its first trip into space, SpaceX will broadcast a live transmission of the launch on its YouTube page.
