NASA and SpaceX aim to launch the CRS-35 cargo flight, which will carry new solar panels to the International Space Station, on October 13. While the launch is expected to be 13.33 Türkiye time, Dragon will carry more than 2.8 tons of materials, equipment and science load. However, the payloads include the last pair of IROSA panels supporting the station’s energy system and new microgravity experiments.
NASA’s launch and arrival announcement states that the Falcon 9 rocket will lift off from the Space Launch Complex 40 pad of the Cape Canaveral facility in Florida. On the other hand, Dragon is aimed to dock with the space-facing section of the Harmony module on October 15, around 18:00 Türkiye time. NASA will state that this calendar shows the planned mission hours and will follow the launch and docking activities via live broadcast.
In addition, Dragon is expected to stay at the station for about a month and return to Earth in mid-November. On its return, the vehicle will land in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, carrying materials from science studies and equipment to be examined. Therefore, this mission includes not only bringing cargo to the station but also delivering some materials in orbit back to the ground crews.
Part of the preparations outside the station for the new panels were completed during Jessica Meir and Anil Menon’s spacewalk in August. NASA’s August 6 mission log states that the duo prepared the 3D power channel for future panel installation and that the walk took 6 hours and 27 minutes. However, this preparation does not mean that the new panels are installed that day and provides the infrastructure for subsequent assembly.
Dragon will bring faulty robot arm part to Earth while delivering new panels
The CRS-35 mission brief explains that the final pair of panels will be installed on future spacewalks to complete the station’s power upgrade. The panels will provide additional energy to critical operations and support preparations for the safe and controlled deorbiting of the station. In addition, Dragon will take an empty protective casing to carry back the faulty Canadarm2 robot arm joint, which was replaced in June.
On the other hand, science loads include the production of artificial retina in layers in microgravity with the experiment called LambdaVision-1. The Stellar Spheroids experiment will examine the growth and function of three-dimensional human heart tissue models in space. In addition, ELF-Unconventional Glass 2 will observe the formation of glasses produced with unusual elements and send solid samples to Earth.
Additionally, the MINDS experiment will investigate inflammatory processes associated with neurodegenerative diseases through brain organoids and combine cells from different people. These studies will test new methods in the investigational phase, and the announcement does not say they will translate into completed treatments for patients. Dragon’s return loads will include the spacesuit to be maintained along with the robot arm joint and the station’s water processing equipment.