What Supplies Are Going to the Space Station?

TL;DR

SpaceX's upgraded Dragon spacecraft is set to deliver vital supplies and the first commercially funded airlock to the International Space Station on its 21st resupply mission. This mission supports the ongoing research for Expedition 64 and 65 crews, while also showcasing significant advancements in NASA's upcoming Artemis missions.

Transcript

Critical cargo on the next space   station resupply mission …

NASA is at a virtual Earth   and space science meeting …

And a key piece of hardware   installed on the Orion spacecraft … a few of the  stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA!   NASA partner SpaceX’s 21st commercial resupply  services mission to the International Space   Sta... Read More

Key Insights

• 🚚 SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft is essential for delivering critical supplies and payloads to the International Space Station.
• 👻 The virtual American Geophysical Union meeting allows NASA and researchers to share new findings in Earth and space science.
• 🎟️ NASA is making progress in preparing for upcoming Artemis missions, including the installation of the forward bay cover on the Orion spacecraft and water impact tests for the Artemis II mission.
• 🥶 The VIPER robot will have dual-brain software to aid in its search for water ice on the Moon.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is being delivered on SpaceX's 21st commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station?

The mission is delivering supplies, payloads, and the first commercially funded space station airlock, supporting the research conducted by Expedition 64 and 65 crews.

Q: What are some of the topics being presented at the virtual American Geophysical Union meeting?

Some of the topics presented include new findings on the Solar Orbiter mission, the environmental trends due to the coronavirus pandemic, and an update on Jupiter's cyclones.

Q: What is the purpose of the forward bay cover installed on the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission?

The forward bay cover is a critical piece of hardware that will protect the Orion crew module during reentry as it travels back through Earth's atmosphere at high speeds.

Q: What is the VIPER robot? How is it being prepared for its mission on the Moon?

The VIPER robot is a rover that will search for water ice on the Moon. Its software is being split between on-board flight software and software running from mission control on Earth, with testing underway at NASA's Ames Research Center.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• SpaceX's upgraded Dragon spacecraft is being used to deliver supplies and payloads to the International Space Station for the Expedition 64 and 65 crews.

• NASA and researchers from around the world are presenting new findings on Earth and space science topics at the virtual American Geophysical Union meeting.

• The Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission has installed a forward bay cover to protect the crew module during reentry, and preparations are underway for water impact tests for the Artemis II mission.