SpaceX's resupply mission to ISS on course for Saturday launch

NASA has confirmed that SpaceX's Dragon cargo craft is on schedule for its launch on Saturday afternoon on a resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

SpaceX's launch of a Falcon 9 rocket boosting the spacecraft had been scheduled for June 1, but that attempt was delayed due to unfavourable weather at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in northeastern Florida, Efe reported.

"@SpaceX's #Dragon cargo craft set to launch to @Space_Station at 5:07pm ET, carrying science not possible on Earth," NASA said on Twitter.

A total of 6,000 pounds of supplies will be delivered in what will be Elon Musk-owned SpaceX's 11th commercial resupply mission to the ISS.

NASA had said on Tuesday that the Dragon spacecraft would carry materials to support more than 250 science and research investigations at the ISS, noting that the supplies would help facilitate scientific breakthroughs not possible on Earth.

The supplies and experiments to be carried by the Dragon craft include the "Seedling Growth-3" project, which will help enhance scientists' knowledge of light and gravity-sensing in plants and potentially lead to enhanced "long-term sustainability of agricultural production both on Earth and extended-duration space flights."

Also on board the craft is the "Advanced Colloids Experiment-Temperature-6," which is designed to study the microscopic behaviour of colloids in gels and creams.

That experiment "could provide new insight into fundamental interactions that can improve product shelf life," NASA said.

It added that the so-called Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER), once installed on the ISS, will allow scientists to study the makeup of neutron stars.

"Neutron stars, the glowing cinders left behind when massive stars explode as supernovas, contain exotic states of matter that are impossible to replicate in any lab," NASA said.

"NICER studies the makeup of these stars, and could provide new insight into their nature and super weird behaviour."

--IANS

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