SpaceX CRS-24 explained

SpaceX CRS-24
Names List:SpX-24
Mission Type:ISS resupply
Operator:SpaceX
Spacecraft Type:Cargo Dragon
Manufacturer:SpaceX
Dimensions: (height)
(diameter)
Launch Date:21 December 2021, 10:07:08 UTC[1]
Launch Rocket:Falcon 9 Block 5 (B1069.1)
Launch Site:Kennedy Space Center, LC-39A
Landing Date:24 January 2022, 21:05 UTC[2]
Landing Site:Gulf of Mexico
Orbit Reference:Geocentric orbit
Orbit Regime:Low Earth orbit
Orbit Inclination:51.66°
Docking:
Docking Type:dock
Docking Date:22 December 2021, 08:41 UTC
Undocking Date:23 January 2022, 15:40 UTC
Time Docked: (achieved)
Insignia:SpaceX CRS-24 Patch.png
Insignia Caption:SpaceX CRS-24 mission patch
Insignia Size:200px
Programme:Commercial Resupply Services
Previous Mission:SpaceX CRS-23
Next Mission:NG-17
Programme2:Cargo Dragon flights
Previous Mission2:SpaceX CRS-23
Next Mission2:SpaceX CRS-25

SpaceX CRS-24, also known as SpX-24, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station launched on 21 December 2021, at 10:07:08 UTC. The mission is contracted by NASA and is flown by SpaceX using a Cargo Dragon. This is the fourth flight for SpaceX under NASA's CRS Phase 2 contract awarded in January 2016.

Cargo Dragon

SpaceX plans to reuse the Cargo Dragons up to five times. The Cargo Dragon is launched without SuperDraco abort engines, without seats, cockpit controls and the life support system required to sustain astronauts in space. The new Cargo Dragon capsules under the NASA CRS Phase 2 contract will land east of Florida in the Atlantic Ocean.

Payload

NASA contracted for the CRS-24 mission from SpaceX and therefore determines the primary payload, date of launch, and orbital parameters for the Cargo Dragon C209. (This effectively determined C209'a turnaround time, which broke the shortness record for reusable orbital spacecraft, at 164.3 days.)[3] Two educational microcontrollers (Astro Pi[4] and Calliope mini[5]) are also being delivered as part of the payload of this mission.

SpaceX CRS-24 carries over of science experiments, instruments, supplies, hardware, and Christmas presents up to the ISS and the crew of Expedition 66.[6]

ANITA-2

ANITA-2 is a trace gas monitoring system developed by OHB and SINTEF under contract of ESA.[7]

STP-H7

A technology demonstration mission which consists of the following payloads:[8]

STP-H8

A technology demonstration mission which consists of the microwave radiometers COWVR and TEMPEST.[5]

Research experiments

The following research experiments will fly on SpaceX CRS-24:[6]

European Space Agency (ESA) research and activities:

Rodent Research-18Astronauts can experience eye problems after returning from space, along with headaches and blurred vision. Rodent Research-18 investigates how spaceflight affects visual function, examining changes in the vascular system of the retina and the ways specific cells interact. A better understanding of the process and biological mechanisms behind these effects could support development of more effective countermeasures. This mission will specifically test metalloporphyrin, an antioxidant that may protect against the irreversible oxidative damage observed in eye structure and function during and after spaceflight. This investigation could also lead to new therapies for neurovascular-related eye diseases and retinal degeneration in people on Earth.

ISS hardware

The following ISS hardware is launched on SpaceX CRS-24:[6]

Launch:

Return:

CubeSats

Five CubeSats were planned for deployment on this mission and on 26 January 2022 the Japanese Remote Manipulator System RMS arm extracted Nanoracks NRCSD-22 from the Kibō airlock; NRCSD-22 then ejected five cubesats (ELaNa 38):

Return

One of the four parachutes' deployment lagged behind the others. The same issue was observed during SpaceX Crew-2.[11]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Live coverage: SpaceX hoping weather cooperates for predawn launch in Florida. Spaceflight Now. 20 December 2021. 21 December 2021.
  2. Web site: Garcia. Mark. Cargo Dragon Splashes Down Ending SpaceX CRS-24 Mission. NASA. 24 January 2022. 25 January 2022.
  3. Web site: Sesnic . Trevor . SpaceX continues to break reuse records and reach new milestones in 2021 . NASASpaceFlight.com . 28 December 2021 . 5 December 2022.
  4. Web site: We are sending Raspberry Pi computers to space for the European Astro Pi Challenge. 13 September 2021. 21 December 2021.
  5. Web site: Small but Mighty NASA Weather Instruments Prepare for Launch. 3 November 2021.
  6. Web site: SpaceX CRS-24 Mission Overview. NASA. 20 December 2021. 21 December 2021.
  7. ANITA2 Trace Gas Analyser for the ISS - Flight Model Finalisation, Ground Test Results, and ANITA-X for future exploration missions. Gisi. Michael. Pfeiffer. Lukas. Stettner. Armin. Seurig. Roland . Wahle. Markus. Honne. Atle. Kaspersen. Kristin. Bakke. Kari. Thielemann. Jens. Liverud. Anders Erik. Witt . Johannes . Rebeyre. Pierre. Hovland. Scott. Laurini. Daniele. Stuffler. Timo. 12 July 2021 . 50th International Conference on Environmental Systems . https://web.archive.org/web/20220412161744/https://ttu-ir.tdl.org/handle/2346/87086 . 12 April 2022 . live . Lisbon, Portugal .
  8. Krebs, Gunter D. “STP-H7”. Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved March 03, 2022, from https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/stp-h7.htm
  9. Web site: Get Away Special Passive Attitude Control Satellite. usu.edu. 2021-09-30.
  10. Web site: The Tethering and Ranging mission of the Georgia Institute of Technology (TARGIT). Georgia Tech Space Systems Design Lab Georgia Institute of Technology. ssdl.gatech.edu. 2021-11-15. 15 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211115040248/http://www.ssdl.gatech.edu/index.php/research/projects/tethering-and-ranging-mission-georgia-institute-technology-targit. dead.
  11. Web site: Foust. Jeff. 2022-02-02. NASA and SpaceX investigating delayed Dragon parachute opening. SpaceNews. 2022-02-02.