SpaceX launched its 33rd cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday, carrying a record-breaking 2,270 kilograms of supplies aboard its Falcon 9 rocket. The CRS-33 flight lifted off at 2:45 a.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and successfully landed the first stage on the SpaceX drone ship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” in the Atlantic Ocean just eight minutes later.
The cargo ship, carrying supplies and equipment for the astronauts living on the ISS, is expected to dock with the station on Monday at 7:30 a.m. EDT. The Dragon capsule will also perform a reboost demonstration, firing its thrusters to boost the station’s orbit and maintain its altitude. This mission marks an important milestone in NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services program.
The CRS-33 Dragon is carrying a range of experiments and supplies, including bone-forming stem cells for studying bone loss prevention, materials for 3D printing medical implants, and bioprinted liver tissue to study blood vessel development in microgravity. The cargo ship will remain at the ISS until December, when it will be loaded with completed science experiments and splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast.
SpaceX’s successful launch and landing demonstrate the company’s capabilities as a leading provider of cargo resupply services for the ISS. As Russia may withdraw from the ISS program by 2028, NASA has tasked SpaceX to perform reboost demonstrations as supplements.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-crs-33-cargo-launch-international-space-station