In a significant milestone for commercial spaceflight, SpaceX’s 32nd Cargo Dragon spacecraft successfully undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) today, May 22, marking the beginning of its return journey to Earth. The spacecraft, which has been docked at the orbital laboratory for nearly a month, is now set to complete a series of deorbit burns before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on May 23.
Mission Overview
The Cargo Dragon, part of SpaceX’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-32) mission, launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 21. It docked with the ISS a day later, delivering 6,700 pounds (3,040 kilograms) of essential supplies, scientific experiments, and equipment for the astronauts aboard the station.
During its stay, the spacecraft facilitated various research projects, including NASA’s Multipurpose International Space Station Experiment (MISSE-20), which tested materials for radiation shielding, solar sails, and heat-resistant coatings. Additionally, the Astrobee-REACCH technology demonstration, designed to explore robotic grasping and object relocation in space, was conducted aboard the ISS.
Undocking and Return to Earth
The undocking process commenced at 12:05 p.m. EDT (1605 GMT), with NASA providing live coverage via its NASA+ streaming platform. Following separation from the ISS, the spacecraft will execute a series of controlled maneuvers to ensure a safe descent back to Earth.
Unlike other cargo vehicles such as Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus and Russia’s Progress, which burn up upon reentry, Dragon is the only operational cargo spacecraft capable of returning scientific samples and equipment to Earth. This capability is crucial for ongoing research, allowing scientists to analyze materials exposed to space conditions and further advancements in space technology.
Splashdown and Recovery
The splashdown is scheduled for May 23 off the coast of California, where recovery teams will retrieve the spacecraft and its cargo. While NASA will provide updates on its ISS blog, there will be no live stream of the landing.
This mission underscores SpaceX’s continued role in supporting NASA’s commercial spaceflight initiatives, ensuring the safe transport of supplies and scientific experiments to and from the ISS. As the Dragon spacecraft completes its journey, researchers eagerly anticipate the return of valuable data that could shape future space exploration efforts.
