SpaceX Launches CRS-35 Cargo Mission to Space Station

SpaceX is scheduled to launch its 35th commercial cargo mission for NASA from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Tuesday, October 13, at 6:33 a.m. EDT. The Falcon 9 rocket will carry a robotic Dragon spacecraft loaded with supplies, equipment and scientific experiments to support astronauts and research aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

According to NASA's October 7 mission announcement, the spacecraft will transport more than 6,300 pounds (2,860 kilograms) of cargo, including the final set of International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays. The additional arrays are intended to increase the orbiting laboratory's electrical power capacity.

The mission, designated CRS-35, is also carrying research equipment for experiments involving artificial retinas, three-dimensional heart tissue, glass formation and brain organoids. The investigations are designed to explore potential applications of microgravity research in medicine and materials science.

NASA has scheduled Dragon's autonomous docking for approximately 11 a.m. EDT on Thursday, October 15. The spacecraft is expected to connect to the space-facing port of the station's Harmony module.

NASA plans to provide launch coverage beginning no earlier than 6 a.m. EDT on October 13, with live streaming and blog updates. Coverage of the spacecraft's arrival is also scheduled for October 15.

The launch may also produce a visible exhaust plume resembling a jellyfish for observers in parts of the eastern United States. WTOP reported that the early-morning launch could allow sunlight to illuminate the rocket's upper-stage exhaust while the ground remains dark.

The Leander McCormick Observatory outlined a potential viewing sequence for observers with a clear view of the eastern sky. Its guidance indicated that the rocket could become visible several minutes after liftoff, depending on the observer's location and viewing conditions.

In a Facebook post, the observatory described when observers might see the rocket and its illuminated exhaust plume.

"Go outside about 6:25 a.m. to let your eyes get adapted to the dark, and face east. If it launches on time at 6:33 a.m., you should first see the spacecraft low in the southeast about 6:38 a.m. (it will look like a star moving right to left). As it climbs to orbit, the exhaust from the second stage will be illuminated by the Sun producing a beautiful tail. You should be able to see the second stage cutoff about 6:42 a.m.," the Leander McCormick Observatory stated.

Visibility will depend on local conditions, and the rocket may take approximately three to five minutes to rise high enough to be seen from a particular location. The predicted viewing times also depend on the launch occurring as scheduled.

NASA's research manifest includes hardware to manufacture artificial retinas in microgravity, with the goal of supporting efforts to restore vision on Earth. The spacecraft will also carry three-dimensional heart tissue models intended to advance large-scale drug testing during future missions.

Other experiments will examine how a new type of glass forms in microgravity and investigate brain organoids that could help researchers identify treatment targets for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis.

NASA expects Dragon to remain attached to the ISS until mid-November. The spacecraft will then return to Earth with research materials and other time-sensitive cargo, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast.

Unlike Russia's Progress, Japan's HTV-X and Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft, which are designed to burn up in Earth's atmosphere after completing their missions, Dragon can return cargo from the space station to Earth, according to Space.com.