33rd Commercial Resupply Mission Launched from Cape Canaveral on August 24

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, hosting more than 5,000 pounds of NASA science equipment and cargo, successfully launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at around 2:45 am on August 24. The spacecraft will be docked to the ISS through December.

The launch continues SpaceX’s long-standing relationship with NASA, marking the 33rd joint mission under the Commercial Resupply Services program alone.

The Dragon capsule docked with the ISS around five hours after liftoff, attaching itself to the forward port of the Harmony module. NASA says the spacecraft will remain at the station through December before returning to Earth with research samples and hardware, splashing down off California.

Among the more than 5,000 pounds of payload are a range of scientific experiments, including bone-forming stem cells to study bone loss, bioprinted liver tissue to investigate blood vessel growth in microgravity, and materials for 3D-printed medical implants. Astronauts will also test a process for 3D printing metal parts in orbit, which NASA says could prove useful for long-duration Artemis missions to the Moon and, eventually, Mars.

This flight also carries hardware to conduct another demonstration of Dragon’s ability to reboost the station’s orbit using a new independent propellant system. The kit, stowed in the trunk of the spacecraft, will fuel two Draco engines to sustain the ISS altitude with a series of scheduled burns from September on. The capability was first demonstrated during a Dragon mission in November 2024.

“Commercial resupply missions to the International Space Station deliver science that helps prove technologies for Artemis lunar missions and beyond,” said acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy. “This flight will test 3D printing metal parts and bioprinting tissue in microgravity - technology that could give astronauts tools and medical support on future Moon and Mars missions.”

FMI: www.spacex.com, www.nasa.gov