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A SpaceX Dragon robotic cargo capsule has been stranded in the Pacific Ocean today, bringing back two tons of scientific experiments and other equipment to Earth a month after its launch on the International Space Station.
Nearly six hours after the Dragon's release from the space station, NASA and SpaceX reported a "good splashdown" at 2:48 pm PT, about 200 miles southwest of Long Beach, California.
Experiments reported since the orbit include Biophysics-6, a protein growth experiment that could produce cleaner pharmaceuticals for cancer treatment and radiation protection; Genes in Space-6, which was the first experiment using CRISPR gene editing tools and could pave the way for DNA repair in deep space; and microgravity microalgae biosynthesis, which studies the effects of weightlessness on an algal that can produce antioxidant supplements for future astronauts' diets.
Today's splash has put an end to the 17th spaceX Space Station replenishment mission, under the terms of NASA contracts. This dragon had already been used for replenishment last August. After recovery from the ocean, the craft and its cargo will be brought ashore, with expedited processing for urgent experiments.
The next SpaceX takeoff is scheduled for June 11 at the latest, when a Falcon 9 will send three Canadian Radarsat satellites into orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. A Falcon Heavy launch is scheduled for June 22nd. This mission will send satellites to the Air Force 2 space test program from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and mark the first night launch of a Falcon Heavy.
The next Dragon Freight Replenishment Mission to the Space Station is scheduled for July 8th.
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