On November 5, 2024, SpaceX and NASA will launch the CRS-2 SpX-31 mission, the latest in SpaceX’s series of Commercial Resupply Services missions to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch is scheduled to take place from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A at 2:29 AM UTC, using a Falcon 9 rocket and the Cargo Dragon spacecraft. This mission represents the 31st ISS resupply mission by SpaceX and underscores the company’s essential role in maintaining NASA’s research and supply efforts in low Earth orbit.
Credit: NASA
Scientific Research Payloads Aboard CRS-2 SpX-31
A key feature of this mission is its extensive scientific payload, aimed at advancing research in neurodegenerative diseases and space technology. Among the most anticipated projects is a biomedical study that will focus on neuroinflammation, a biological process linked to diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. This study, developed by neuroscientists, will use three-dimensional brain cell models created from human stem cells. These models allow researchers to simulate conditions associated with these diseases, creating an unprecedented opportunity to study inflammation at a cellular level and assess potential treatment targets. Given the ISS's unique environment, scientists anticipate that results from this study could offer new insights that are challenging to obtain in terrestrial labs.
Mapping the ISS in High Definition: The Multi-Resolution Scanner
Another highlight of the mission’s payload is the Multi-Resolution Scanner (MRS). This scanner is designed to collaborate with Astrobee, the ISS's autonomous robotic assistant, to create high-definition 3D maps of the station’s interior. By using MRS, NASA aims to improve its monitoring and maintenance practices by identifying potential areas of damage or wear on the station’s infrastructure. This technology is expected to have broader applications in future space missions, providing a foundation for autonomous, remote inspections in deep-space travel and for spacecraft maintenance during extended missions.
Launch Details
The CRS-2 SpX-31 mission will launch on SpaceX’s reliable workhorse Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket, capable of delivering up to 22,800 kg to low Earth orbit. The reusable rocket’s first stage will make a landing attempt at SpaceX’s Landing Zone 1, part of the company’s ongoing efforts to optimize costs and improve sustainability in space travel. This launch will be SpaceX’s 107th of 2024, marking a year of record-breaking activity for the company as it continues to meet NASA’s ISS resupply needs.
The CRS-2 SpX-31 mission is part of NASA’s extended commercial partnership with SpaceX, aiming to enhance ISS science capabilities and support Earth-based and space-based advancements. By enabling experiments in areas like neurodegenerative disease and robotic technology, NASA and SpaceX are contributing to breakthroughs that benefit both space exploration and public health. These advancements are part of NASA’s longer-term strategy to leverage the ISS as a research hub, helping scientists understand complex conditions and develop technologies essential for the future of human spaceflight.
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