SpaceX Dragon's CRS-26 Mission To ISS Delivers Solar Arrays, Scientific Experiments

SpaceX’s newest Cargo Dragon 2 spacecraft, C211, launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket at 1920 UTC on Saturday, Nov. 26 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It docked with the International Space Station ISS, on Sunday November 27 at 1239 UTC, as both spacecraft sailed high over the Pacific Ocean.

"We're excited to unpack and get to work," NASA astronaut Josh Cassada radioed Mission Control from the space station after the successful docking.

"Hopefully you can enjoy your well-deserved and long-awaited ice cream soon," Mission Control's Megan Harvey replied.

The 26th Commercial Resupply Services(CRS-26) mission delivered a wide range of scientific experiments to the ISS. For example, one study bound for the station will grow dwarf cherry tomatoes from seeds in a bid to help ramp up off-Earth food production. Another investigation will continue previous microgravity research with 3D-cultured heart tissue, testing potential therapies that could prevent or slow the development of cardiac disease.

Dragon which is packed with about 7,700 pounds (3,500 kilograms) of cargo, also delivered a pair of new solar arrays, Roll Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs), designed to augment the space station's existing solar wings.

The ISS will eventually feature six iROSAs, which together will boost the station's power supply by 20% to 30%. Spacewalking astronauts have installed two of the new arrays to date.

WATCH the liftoff of SpaceX Dragon 2 on CRS-26 mission to the ISS.