Photo credit: arstechnica.com

SpaceX Conducts Resupply Mission to the ISS Amid Cargo Challenges

In a significant development early Monday, SpaceX successfully launched an uncrewed Cargo Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a vital resupply mission. This launch gained added importance following a transportation mishap that affected another U.S. cargo ship’s flight, as reported by Spaceflight Now. The Dragon spacecraft docked with the ISS on Tuesday, delivering a total of 4,780 pounds (2,168 kilograms) of pressurized cargo and 1,653 pounds (750 kilograms) of unpressurized payloads in its trunk section. This payload adjustment was necessary due to the cancellation of an upcoming mission by Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus freighter after the cargo module sustained damage during transport.

The Dragon mission marked the 32nd resupply effort by SpaceX and included a range of typical supplies, such as fresh food (notably, 1,262 tortillas), biomedical samples, and pharmaceuticals. However, there remains an air of secrecy surrounding a specific payload named STP-H10. This package is intended for installation on a mounting post outside the space station, executing a project for the U.S. military’s Space Test Program. Notably absent from NASA’s press briefing, STP-H10 was also omitted from SpaceX’s standard visual updates of the spacecraft’s trunk after launch. While this is not the first time Space Test Program experiment platforms have been launched without much fanfare, the unclassified nature of STP-H10 raises further questions. Additional information about the STP-H10 experiments can be accessed here.

Launch Challenges of Rideshare Missions

In another mission, SpaceX also conducted its third “Bandwagon” rideshare launch on Monday evening, sending a variety of payloads into mid-inclination orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, as reported by Space News. Among the several payloads was a South Korean military radar reconnaissance satellite and a small commercial weather satellite. One of the more intriguing payloads involved an experimental reentry vehicle developed by German startup Atmos Space Cargo, called the Phoenix.

The Phoenix vehicle, designed with an inflatable heat shield, detached from the Falcon 9’s upper stage approximately 90 minutes post-launch. Shortly after, it began its reentry trajectory aimed for a splashdown in the South Atlantic Ocean, approximately 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers) off the Brazilian coast. Originally, the Phoenix was set to reenter over the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar, but last-minute adjustments necessitated by the primary satellite’s operational constraints required a change in trajectory, complicating recovery efforts.

Impact of Trajectory Changes on Recovery Efforts

The trajectory shift meant that Atmos Space Cargo had no opportunity to retrieve the Phoenix after its splashdown, while also resulting in a steeper reentry that increased the mechanical stress on the vehicle. To prepare for the altered mission parameters, Atmos arranged for new ground stations in South America to maintain communication during crucial flight phases. Additionally, the company chartered an aircraft to gather data during reentry, but the splashdown’s location ultimately exceeded the range of the plane’s capabilities.

Initial reports suggest that the heat shield functioned as intended. However, Atmos’s CEO noted the complexity of obtaining adequate data during the final flight phases due to the increased distance from ground communication stations. Further analysis of the collected data is anticipated, as the team works towards understanding the Phoenix’s performance under the new reentry conditions.

Source
arstechnica.com