The Dragon capsule on this 31st Commercial Resupply Services mission for NASA is carrying food, supplies, and scientific equipment for the ISS crew. Key research instruments aboard include an advanced device to study solar winds and their formation, along with several unique biological and material science investigations designed to push the boundaries of space science.
This mission also stands out for its inclusion of student experiments under the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP), a collaborative educational effort coordinated by the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE) and the ISS National Laboratory. As part of this initiative, students from 38 communities across North America designed 39 experiments that are now on board Dragon. These projects were selected from nearly 1,900 student proposals, allowing young scientists to contribute directly to the exploration of space.
"The whole idea of education is to prepare our students for the real world," explained Jeff Goldstein, center director of NCESSE. Goldstein noted that the hands-on research experience offered through SSEP "is crucial for preparing students for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). A very effective way to do that is to bring professional experiences into the classroom and ask our students to be scientists and engineers right now."
Highlighted student experiments include research from students in Mesa, AZ, who are studying the behavior of Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms in microgravity. This project could yield new insights into infection prevention for astronauts. Another experiment, from eighth graders in Lamont, CA, explores the germination of spinach seeds in space, potentially leading to improved space-based agriculture. High school seniors in Pickerington, OH, are analyzing the effects of a powdered hydration product in space to understand its potential for astronaut hydration support.
Additional projects include studying brine shrimp growth by students in Grantsburg, WI, who hypothesize that the microgravity environment could promote larger growth in these resilient organisms, which has implications for aquaculture and environmental research. Meanwhile, students in Sandy, UT, are investigating pest control using nematodes to evaluate how effectively these small worms can combat insect pests in space.
As part of the mission's broad objectives, the Dragon capsule also carries Antarctic moss to study the effects of cosmic radiation and microgravity on plant biology. Other scientific tools include a cold-welding device to test metal bonding in microgravity and a materials science investigation focused on understanding how the space environment alters different substances. These studies collectively aim to advance knowledge critical for long-duration space missions and potential human settlement in space.
This resupply mission marks SpaceX's 31st cargo delivery to the ISS and highlights the company's strides in reusable technology. The Falcon 9 booster used for this mission has flown five times previously, supporting the SpaceX Crew-8 mission, the Polaris Dawn private mission, and two Starlink satellite launches. The successful recovery and reuse of boosters underscore SpaceX's achievements in reducing launch costs through its automated return technology.
With this launch, SpaceX has conducted its 105th mission of 2024, emphasizing its commitment to frequent and reliable access to space.