SpaceX launches station cargo mission carrying solar arrays and health research

SpaceX launched its CRS-35 cargo mission to the International Space Station on October 13, carrying more than 6,300 pounds of scientific investigations and supplies. NASA reported liftoff at 6:33 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. FOX Carolina also reported the launch and the mission’s planned Thursday arrival. ^{[4] [5]}

Flight and arrival

NASA said Dragon separated from the Falcon 9 rocket’s second stage about nine minutes after launch, opened its nosecone and began thruster maneuvers toward the station. Arrival remains scheduled for approximately 11 a.m. EDT October 15, with live coverage beginning at 9:15 a.m. The successful launch does not yet establish a completed docking. ^[4]

Spaceflight Now’s October 13 preview identifies the spacecraft as Dragon C211, flying for the fourth time, and the first-stage booster as B1096, making its eighth flight. Its report also notes that the docking port became available after Crew Dragon Freedom departed and returned the Crew-12 astronauts to Earth October 8. ^[2]

Power and maintenance

The final pair of ISS Roll-Out Solar Arrays is packed into Dragon’s unpressurized trunk, according to Spaceflight Now. The arrays are intended to augment power generation on the aging station. The cargo also includes an apparatus to hold a failed Canadarm2 joint removed during a June 30 spacewalk, alongside maintenance equipment. ^[2]

Research aboard Dragon

NASA’s October 12 research overview describes four biological investigations. One sends small laboratory-grown brain models to space for five weeks, comparing them with matching tissue models kept on Earth. Researchers want to examine cellular responses to spaceflight and improve understanding of potential risks to astronaut brain health during future exploration. ^[3]

A separate crop experiment compares fungus-infected plants grown on the station and on Earth to study how disease behaves in microgravity. Another tests a compact reader for measuring biological markers aboard the station, potentially shortening the wait for health-related data. A returning investigation will sample station surfaces to track antibiotic-resistant bacteria. ^[3]

What comes next

These experiments are designed to investigate health and agricultural questions, rather than establish treatments or new crops at launch. NASA says the work could support longer missions and research on Earth. Dragon is scheduled to stay until mid-November before returning time-sensitive research and cargo to a splashdown off California, according to the agency’s advisory. ^{[1] [3]}