SpaceX's 29th Mission
SpaceX's Cargo Dragon successfully launches SpaceX's 29th robotic cargo mission to the International Space Station. SpaceX's unmanned CRS-29 Dragon spacecraft launched aboard the company's Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The purpose of this mission is to carry cargo to the ISS for research and then return it to Earth. The cargo will remain in orbit around the ISS outpost for about a month before returning to Earth and splashing down into the ocean off the coast of Florida.
This mission marked the 29th Cargo Dragon flight and capsule C-211's second visit to the space station. Notably, the first stage booster, flying its second flight, autonomously returned to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking SpaceX's 39th Florida touchdown and 243rd overall.
CRS-29 Mission Features
Distributing research gear and equipment
The primary mission objective is to deliver critical research gear and equipment to the ISS. The cargo carries an experimental high-speed laser communications package, designed to revolutionize data transmission using infrared laser beams, surpassing the capabilities of conventional radio systems.
Deliver Equipment
SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft will deliver new science probes, food, supplies and equipment to the international crew, including NASA's AWE (Atmospheric Wave Experiment), which is designed to understand the flow of energy through Earth's upper atmosphere and space . has been made. Studies atmospheric gravity waves.
Delivering Illuma-T
The spacecraft will also deliver NASA's ILLUMA-T, which is intended to test high data rate laser communications from the space station to Earth via the agency's LCRD (Laser Communications Relay Demonstration).