The updated crew Dragon spaceship splashed down at 01:30 GMT this morning
It contains a number of scientific experiments and a case of Bordeaux wine
Previous Dragons splashed down in the Pacific but this is the first Atlantic drop
This is the first time science experiments from the ISS have gone through Kennedy Space Center in Florida since the end of the space shuttle operations
Jan 11, 2021
By capsule, helicopter, boat, plane, and car, space station science experiments are about to make a first of a kind journey back to researchers on Earth.
Today (11 January), the SpaceX cargo Dragon spacecraft carrying out the company’s 21
st commercial resupply services (CRS-21) mission for NASA undocks from the International Space Station, heading for splashdown off the coast of Florida about 12 hours later.
This upgraded Dragon transports significantly more science back to Earth than possible in previous Dragon capsules and is the first space station cargo capsule to splash down off the coast of Florida.
The upgraded version of SpaceX’s Cargo Dragon spacecraft, Dragon 2, is seen atop a Falcon 9 rocket on Dec. 2, 2020, as they prepare to be rolled out to Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the company’s 21st Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-21) launch.
NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 28 December, 2020 Status Report - Source: SpaceRef
NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 28 December, 2020.
Following a day off on Christmas, the Expedition 64 crew went into the weekend with a variety of space biology to help researchers gain therapeutic insights not possible on Earth.
Long-term exposure to microgravity affects organisms adapted to living on Earth in many ways. That same weightless phenomena also reveals unique physical properties that doctors can use to develop advanced medicines and therapies.
A pair of studies taking place over the weekend explored new treatments for joint injuries and cancer. Saturday s investigation observed samples of bone, cartilage, and synovium (connective tissue) housed in an artificial gravity chamber for insights into bone loss and joint damage. Sunday s space research explored space-grown protein crystals, which are higher quality than those created on Earth, and their ability to target
NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 24 December, 2020 - Christmas Break Tomorrow Status Report - Source: NASA
Expedition 64 Flight Engineer Shannon Walker unpacks spacewalk hardware.
Today the crew worked on the following: AstroPi, Food Acceptability, FOP sample exchange, ISS Experience, JAXA video take, Rodent Research, Standard Measures, SoundSee stow, Veggie Monitor. Tomorrow the crew has the day off to celebrate Christmas.
Payloads
Cardinal Heart: The crew performed a periodic cell culture media exchange in the various cell culture chambers. Effect of Microgravity on Drug Responses Using Engineered Heart Tissues (Cardinal Heart) studies the effects of change in gravitational force on cardiovascular cells at the cellular and tissue level using engineered heart tissues (EHTs). Microgravity significantly affects heart tissues that perform work and exert an opposite force to gravity and is known to cause molecular and structural abnormalities in cells and tissues t