The SpaceX launch vehicle used for today’s mission to the International Space Station (ISS) is the Falcon 9 rocket, which was developed by Boeing and launched on October 16th, 2020.
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Falcon 9 is a four-stage rocket that uses liquid fuel instead of solid fuel as its main propellant. The first stage of the rocket consists of a engine, which powers a lower-stage rocket that launches the spacecraft into orbit. The second stage of the rocket contains two more engines that extend the vehicle’s range and lift it off the ground. The third stage of the rocket burns a small amount of liquid oxygen to generate thrust, and the fourth stage launches the spacecraft into orbit.
During the mission to the ISS, Falcon 9 was used to transport four astronauts who were conducting experiments and conducting research at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew included NASA astronaut Scott Peale, mission control officer Mark(a), and robotic scientists along with their payload.
One of the key objectives of the mission was to test new technologies for future missions to the ISS. One of these tests was to investigate how the microgravity environment could affect the behavior of certain materials, such as bone density.
To conduct this experiment, SpaceX installed a special material called “carbon fiber reinforced polymer,” orCFRP, onto the back of the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket. This material has been shown to provide significant strength and durability under microgravity conditions, making it ideal for testing in the weightlessness of space.
Another objective of the mission was to investigate the effects of long-duration spaceflight on human health. To do this, SpaceX installed several medical equipment systems into the payload, including an oxygen tank, a heart rate monitor, and a blood pressure monitor.
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Overall, the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on October 16th, 2020, marked the successful completion of a critical milestone in the development of reusable rockets for commercial space travel. It demonstrated the capabilities of SpaceX and its partners to safely and reliably transport astronauts and scientific instruments to and from space.
