A shipment of ants, avocados, and a human-sized robotic arm from SpaceX headed to the International Space Station today.
Delivery will take place on Monday in the twenty-third freighter mission of the private company.
SpaceX carries 2,170 kg of material
Today, the SpaceX ship left for space "loaded with materials". In addition to ants, avocados, and a robot arm, astronauts on the space station will receive fresh food, including lemons, onions, tomatoes, and ice cream. As mentioned, the delivery will take place within the day of tomorrow.
For this mission, a recycled Falcon rocket that blasted off at dawn from NASA's Kennedy Space Center was used. After launching the Dragon capsule, the rocket landed perpendicular to SpaceX's latest ocean platform, called "hypogravity." SpaceX founder Elon Musk has kept his tradition alive by naming these platforms after the late science fiction writer Iain Banks.
The Dragon capsule holds over 2,170 kg of material.
The first stage of the Falcon 9 booster has landed on A Shortfall of Gravitas - the first landing on this drone! pic.twitter.com/vaiqb30q0P
- SpaceX (SpaceX) August 29, 2021
Girl Scouts sent ants and plants as "guinea pigs," while scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison wanted to send the seeds of cressus, a small herb used in genetic research.
The experimental robotic arm belongs to a Japanese startup, and the first tests will be conducted inside the space station. Toyotaka Kozuki, chief technology officer, said that future models of robots from Gitai Inc. You'll venture into the void in space to help with satellite maintenance and other work.
Despite all the items traveling with the ship, some remained ashore due to delays caused by COVID-19.
