SpaceX Cargo Dragon Leaves International Space Station: Journey Back to Earth Begins!

SpaceX recently completed its 32nd Dragon cargo mission, successfully undocking from the International Space Station (ISS) on May 23. Initially scheduled for May 22, the undocking faced a delay due to bad weather over the splashdown area.

At precisely 11:50 a.m. EDT, the mission control team announced the go-ahead for undocking. NASA astronaut Jimmy Kim supervised the operation as the automated spacecraft began the undocking process at noon, leaving the ISS just five minutes later, while flying over northeast Australia at an altitude of 260 miles (420 kilometers).

After detaching, Dragon moved away and prepared for a series of burns to drop into a return trajectory aimed at a splashdown off the California coast, expected around 1:45 a.m. EDT on May 25. This mission marks the end of CRS-32, a part of NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services program.

Launched on April 21 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, CRS-32 delivered around 6,700 pounds (3,040 kilograms) of supplies to the ISS the following day. These included food, scientific experiments, and equipment. This mission’s cargo return includes samples from NASA’s Multipurpose International Space Station Experiment (MISSE-20), an Astrobee robot, and the REACCH technology demonstration project.

What’s especially notable about the Dragon spacecraft is its ability to make two-way deliveries. Unlike Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus or Russia’s Progress vehicles, which burn up upon reentry, Dragon is the only operational cargo vehicle that can return safely to Earth, making it an essential asset for resupply missions.

While the splashdown won’t be streamed live, NASA will provide updates on its website.

Interestingly, SpaceX’s mission success stands in contrast with Boeing’s Starliner, which has faced delays due to issues during a recent crew flight test. This setback has postponed Starliner’s certification for operational status with the ISS fleet.

According to a recent NASA survey, 70% of the public supports ongoing missions like CRS-32, emphasizing the importance of space logistics in scientific advancements. As we look forward to more missions like this, Dragon’s role in facilitating research and supplies to the ISS becomes ever more crucial.”

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