SpaceX resupply mission with key research on way to International Space Station

A SpaceX Falcon rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral PicAPPTI PhotoAstronauts aboard the International Space Station ISS were set to receive 2630 kg of research crew supplies and hardware after NASAs cargo provider SpaceX launched a commercial resupply mission On Monday the SpaceX Dragon lifted off on a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida with a delivery of experiments dealing with how the human body plants and materials behave in spaceThe supplies will support dozens of the more than 250 investigations aboard the space station Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Norishige Kanai and NASAs Scott Tingle will use the space stations robotic arm to capture Dragon after its scheduled arrival at the station on WednesdayThe spacecraft will spend approximately one month attached to the station and then return to Earth in May with some results of completed experiments NASA said in a statement Among the research arriving on Dragon is a new facility to test materials coatings and components or other large experiments in the harsh environment of spaceThe Materials ISS Experiment Flight Facility MISSEFF provides a platform for testing how materials react to exposure to ultraviolet radiation atomic oxygen ionising radiation ultrahigh vacuum charged particles thermal cycles electromagnetic radiation and micrometeoroids in the lowEarth orbit environmentThe Canadian Space Agencys study Bone Marrow Adipose Reaction Red or White MARROW will look at the effects of microgravity on bone marrow and the blood cells it produces an effect likened to that of longterm bed rest on Earth Understanding how plants respond to microgravity also is important for future longduration space missions and the crews that will need to grow their own foodThe Passive Orbital Nutrient Delivery System PONDS arriving on Dragon uses a newlydeveloped passive nutrient delivery system and the Veggie plant growth facility currently aboard the space station to cultivate leafy greens These greens will be harvested and eaten by the crew with samples also being returned to Earth for analysis NASA saidDragon also is carrying an Earth observatory that will study severe thunderstorms and their role in the Earths atmosphere and climate as well as upgrade equipment for the stations carbon dioxide removal system external highdefinition camera components and a new printer for the stations crew This is SpaceXs 14th cargo mission to the space station under NASA Commercial Resupply Services contractCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updatesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever