SpaceX Launches CRS-35 Mission to International Space Station with Final Solar Arrays

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the 35th Commercial Resupply Services mission, "CRS-35," to the International Space Station at 6:33 a.m. EST from Cape Canaveral, according to Spaceflight Now.

The mission transported approximately 6,300 pounds of supplies and scientific materials, including more than 40 experiments, along with the final pair of roll-out "iROSA" solar arrays built by Redwire Space. The spacecraft is expected to dock with the station next Thursday at around 11:00 a.m. EST.

The new "iROSA" arrays represent the final piece in a series of upgrades to the station's power generation capacity, as they are installed on external trusses to boost energy production from sunlight and support the operation of onboard systems and scientific missions.

CRS missions serve as the backbone for supplying the International Space Station with food, equipment, and fuel, with the success of scientific experiments and the crew's daily work depending on their regularity. These flights also provide a platform to launch experiments that do not require direct human supervision.

What Do These Terms Mean?

CRS: Short for Commercial Resupply Services missions contracted by NASA with private companies to transport supplies, equipment, and science to the International Space Station.

iROSA: Solar arrays designed to be rolled up and stored in a compact package and then unfurled in space, making them easier to transport on cargo spacecraft and install on the station.

Docking: The rendezvous and attachment of a spacecraft to the International Space Station, a delicate step requiring precise matching of speed and altitude.

Scientific Payload: The equipment, samples, and instruments dedicated to conducting experiments in space, used in research areas such as medicine, materials, and fluid behavior.