The delivery — due to arrive Monday — is the company's 23rd
for NASA in just under a decade.
A recycled Falcon rocket blasted into the predawn sky from
NASA's Kennedy Space Center. After hoisting the Dragon capsule, the first-stage
booster landed upright on SpaceX's newest ocean platform, named “A Shortfall of
Gravitas.” SpaceX founder Elon Musk continued his tradition of naming the
booster-recovery vessels in tribute to the late science fiction writer Iain
Banks and his Culture series.
The Dragon is carrying more than 4,800 pounds (2,170
kilograms) of supplies and experiments, and fresh food including avocados,
lemons and even ice cream for the space station's seven astronauts.
The Girl Scouts are sending up ants, brine shrimp, and
plants as test subjects, while University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists are
flying up seeds from mouse-ear cress, a small flowering weed used in genetic
research. Samples of concrete, solar cells, and other materials also will be
subjected to weightlessness.
A Japanese start-up company's experimental robotic arm,
meanwhile, will attempt to screw items together in its orbital debut and
perform other mundane chores normally done by astronauts. The first tests will
be done inside the space station. Future models of Gitai's robot will venture
out into the vacuum of space to practice satellite and other repair jobs, said
chief technology officer Toyotaka Kozuki.
As early as 2025, a squad of these arms could help build lunar
bases and mine the moon for precious resources, he added.
SpaceX had to leave some experiments behind because of
delays resulting from COVID-19.
It was the second launch attempt; Saturday's try was foiled
by stormy weather.
NASA turned to SpaceX and other US companies to deliver
cargo and crews to the space station, once the space shuttle programme ended in
2011.