Key Takeaways
- The Dragon spacecraft successfully undocked from the ISS and is en route to Earth.
- Approximately 4,400 lbs of scientific experiments, including cell‑gravity studies, are aboard the capsule.
- A splashdown is planned off the coast of Florida on Friday morning.
Washington: NASA said Thursday that SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft has successfully undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) after multiple delays caused by unfavorable weather conditions and is expected to down off the coast of Florida.
“Undocking confirmed! @SpaceX’s CRS-29 Dragon is currently en route to Earth, set to splash down off the coast of Florida,” NASA said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The spacecraft is carrying about 4,400 pounds of “precious scientific cargo” back to Earth.
“Including data assessing how cells respond to gravity, plants’ genetic adaptations in space, and more,” the space agency added.
The spacecraft is expected to land off the coast of Florida on Friday morning, NASA said.
Northrop Grumman’s uncrewed Cygnus spacecraft is also expected to depart the ISS on Friday around 7:45 a.m. EST (10:05 GMT). Unlike the Dragon spacecraft, Cygnus will safely burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, according to NASA.
The 29th SpaceX resupply mission to the ISS docked the station on November 11 and brought 65,00 pounds of cargo, including new science investigations to study atmospheric gravity waves and test high data rate laser communications from the space station to Earth, as well as provisions for the crew.
