SpaceX launches CRS-22

Peder Halseide

Cosmic Perspective Guest Author

Science trucks in space!

What is bigger than an ice cream truck, goes 10 times faster than a bullet, and has more science in it than Bill Nye the Science Guy? Why CRS-22, of course! On June 3, 2021 a giant Dragon Capsule built by SpaceX was launched from the Space Shuttle and Saturn V’s old launchpad in Florida USA, LC-39A.

On site for this launch was Cosmic Perspective photographer John Pisani, who captured stunning high-speed footage of liftoff during his first-ever remote camera setup.

Video credit: John Pisani for Cosmic Perspective

On top of the Falcon Rocket was a Cargo Dragon space capsule, actually a Crew Dragon capsule that has been stripped down of crew rescue equipment to maximize the amount of cargo that it can deliver to its space outpost destination, the International Space Station. (ISS). No people were aboard this mission. However, a few tardigrades and bobtail squid made the cut.

Dodging storms @SpaceX Falcon 9 and Dragon lifted off from @NASAKennedy with more than 7,000lbs of cargo destined for @Space_Station at 1:29pm today.
It may have been cloudy, and I might have a few less pics to sort through, but we went to space today!
🚀📸 @considercosmos pic.twitter.com/osRo0WgzQE
— John Pisani (@johnpisaniphoto) June 3, 2021

“I feel like going down this rocket stalking, launch photography rabbit hole was totally worth every sleepless night & emotional rollercoaster ride ever— solely because of days like today where it just comes together and you witness a rocket launch.
There’s nothing like it.”

-John Pisani

The mission name CRS 22 reflects the relationship between NASA and the various agencies that support the Commercial Resupply Services, and the fact that this is SpaceX’s 22nd mission of this sort. Contracts between NASA and scientific organizations allow the ISS to be used as a national laboratory. The Lab provides funds for both students and teachers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

This Space Truck is hauling 3,328 kilograms (7337 lbs.) of cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) Including vehicle hardware and crew supplies. The cargo also includes over a ton of scientific equipment and experiments, and fresh food including avocados and apples. 11 CubeSat (10cm X 10cm X 10cm ) satellites will be launched as part of this mission, including “RamSat” from 6th, 7th and 8th graders at Robertsville Middle School in Oak Ridge Tennessee. The young student’s experiment will look closely at fire damage and return vegetation growth in their community.

Falcon 9 awaits liftoff at Pad 39A.
Photo Credit: John Pisani for Cosmic Perspective

CRS-22 Docked with the ISS autonomously 2 days later on June 5, 2021. Mountain climbers know that when they get to the top, they are only halfway done. This is also true with the hard working Dragon capsule, which in addition to delivering cargo, is also intended to shuttle old equipment and cargo safely back to Earth. It will be loaded up with old life support equipment and other items that are no longer needed on the station. Instead of burning up in the atmosphere on re-entry, the Crew Dragon will land intact, gathering important information on the way back that will keep future crew members safe. The Crew Dragon capsules are designed to do up to 5 round trips each. From launchpad to landing each trip truly is a long haul for these hard working space vehicles.