Today (April 15), the SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule, which is operated by a robot, is expected to make its way back to Earth. The Dragon is planned to detach from the International Space Station (ISS) at 11:05 a.m. EDT (1505 GMT), initiating its journey back to Earth. You can witness the departure live on Space.com with the assistance of NASA, or directly through the space agency’s website (opens in new tab). The coverage is expected to commence at 10:45 a.m. EDT (1445 GMT).
After detaching, Dragon is scheduled to have a gentle ocean landing with the help of parachutes, off the Florida coast, which is expected to take place “several hours” later, as stated in a NASA blog post (opens in new tab). The splashdown event can also be viewed live on Space.com.
The CRS-27 mission involved the Dragon launching from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on March 14. As part of its cargo, the robotic spacecraft transported about 6,300 pounds (2,860 kilograms) of supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) under the commercial resupply services (CRS) contract with NASA. Among the items on board were 60 scientific experiments, various hardware, and some delectable treats for the astronauts, including fresh fruit like apples, blueberries, grapefruit, oranges, and cherry tomatoes, along with different types of refrigerated cheeses. This information was shared by Phil Dempsey, the International Space Station Program transportation integration manager, during a pre-launch press conference for CRS-27 on March 13.
According to a NASA blog post, the CRS-27 Dragon is scheduled to transport approximately 4,300 pounds (1,950 kg) of “experiment hardware and research samples” back to Earth today, showcasing the distinct capability of the SpaceX capsule. In contrast, the Progress vehicle and Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus, the two other robotic cargo crafts that presently support the ISS, are designed to disintegrate in Earth’s atmosphere at the end of their orbit.
