SpaceX, NASA launch from Florida to space station: Coffee, science experiments on board
When Crew-8 launched to the International Space Station (ISS) earlier this month, they knew they'd be getting more than just a supply delivery during their stay.
Headed their way after a planned SpaceX Falcon 9 launch Thursday will be multiple experiments — on some, the NASA astronauts will be the test subjects themselves. These studies are looking at a range of health topics, from age-related diseases to mental health.
Also heading to the ISS on the CRS-30 mission is a camera which will provide sharp 4K views of the Earth.
For live coverage of the launch, go here.
Follow the live FLORIDA TODAY coverage SpaceX launch today: Everything to know about NASA cargo launch from Cape Canaveral to ISS
What is the SpaceX CRS-30 (SpX-30) resupply mission for NASA?
This will be SpaceX’s 30th resupply mission to the International Space Station for NASA. It will be delivering experiments, food, and supplies to Crew-8, which consists of three NASA astronauts and one Russian cosmonaut. They launched in the SpaceX Dragon to the station in early March.
When is SpaceX CRS-30 launching from Cape Canaveral, Florida?
The CRS-30 mission is set to liftoff at 4:55 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, from Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
This mission will take advantage of the newly added crew access arm at Launch Complex 40 even though there are no crew members on this flight. This will be the first Dragon 2 spacecraft to launch from SLC-40.
Although this flight will not have a crew onboard, future launches from this site could. According to NASA Spaceflight, the success of this launch will assist in certifying SLC-40 for future crewed launches.
Where can I watch the SpaceX CRS-30 (SpX-30) launch?
Make sure to check our LIVE launch updates stating at T-2 hours prior to launch. This can be found at Floridatoday.com/space.
If you are in or near Brevard County, you will be able to see the rocket rise into the late afternoon sky. Check out the recent FLORIDA TODAY guide on where to look for this rocket launch. Head outside at the time of lift off and look towards the area of Kennedy Space Center from your location.
Upcoming launches from Florida Is there a launch today? Upcoming rocket launch schedule for SpaceX, NASA in Florida
Weather forecast for the SpaceX CRS-30 (Spx-30) rocket launch
As of Thursday morning, the 45th Weather Squadron announced that CRS-30 was 90% go for weather. Thursday will see a low pressure arriving, but the launch window should be early enough miss it.
The backup window on Friday is not looking as good, forecasting only a 15% go.
Which SpaceX Dragon and rocket are launching CRS-30?
CRS-30 will be launched on Cargo Dragon C209 with the boost of a Falcon9 rocket.
Where will the SpX-30 Falcon9 booster land?
The Falcon9 booster is expected to land at Landing Zone 1, which is south of SLC-40. Expect to hear a sonic boom as the first stage comes back for a quick landing.
There will be fresh food and coffee headed to the space station
The food headed into orbit is not your typical space food. Heidi Parris, associate program scientist at NASA’s International Space Station Program Research Office, said during a Tuesday afternoon media conference that among the 6000 pounds of cargo will be a fresh food kit, including citrus, apples, and cherry tomatoes.
"They have two coffee kits, which I would probably be the most excited about," Parris said. "The crew requested those, so we're making sure we get them some fresh coffee."
There were some private crew members requests as well.
What science is being delivered to the space station on SpaceX CRS-30?
At a briefing last month, Parris said the payloads will “advance entire fields on research that we can’t do on the ground”. The microgravity environment provides a unique laboratory in which things behave differently on the molecular level.
One example is an experiment looking at the effect of spaceflight on the eyes, as it can mimic oxidated age-related diseases, such as macular degeneration. Solving this issue would not only lead to further human exploration but may be able to offer treatment for patients on Earth suffering with these diseases.
Other experiments continue to look at furthering human exploration. These include printing cardiac tissue, antibiotic resistance in space (NASA's GEARS study) and studying how the human brain adapts to extreme conditions.
Technology on SpaceX CRS-30 – 4K video from space
Monitoring our planet from above continues to be vital to weather and climate studies.
Sen, a UK based company which already streams 4K video from satellites, is sending a 4K camera to the ISS for Earth observation. The company aims to continue to make space data accessible to all.
The public can watch live views of Earth from current 4K satellite cameras at https://www.sen.com/.
Onboard CRS-30 will also be an updated sensor for Astrobees, which are free flying robots providing 3D mapping of the ISS. Future applications could be to scan the exterior of spacecraft for damage.
When will SpaceX resupply mission CRS-30 arrive at the space station?
If launch goes according to plan, docking to the zenith port of the ISS’s Harmony module is expected at around 7:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 23.
This comes just before the planned arrival of a Soyuz crew, launching from Kazakhstan early Thursday morning. "ISS has been a very busy place," Parris said as she touched on the timing of these missions.
Special fact about this mission - the date and significance to Titusville
Assuming the mission launches on planned, launch day will have special significance here. It just happens to be 3-21. And Brevard County is famously home to the 321 area code, and there are special festivities planned that day in Titusville's Space View Park to honor the man who pushed to secure that area code for the Space Coast.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX rocket launch: Coffee, cherry tomatoes heading to space station
