SpaceX Dragon Cargo Spacecraft Arrives, Brings Scientific Data From International Space Station

It was a momentous day. On Wednesday, a Dragon spacecraft has finally returned to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS). Owned and launched by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's SpaceX, the Dragon spacecraft carried in its hold valuable scientific data according to a NASA statement which was released last Thursday.

According to a news report on Space.com, on Wednesday, May 11 at 2:51 in the afternoon EDT, the Dragon spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean about 261 miles southwest of Long Beach, California. The cargo spacecraft came with over 3,700 pounds of NASA cargo, science and technology demonstration samples from the ISS (International Space Station).

Moreover, some of the cargo will be removed and returned to NASA before the spacecraft heads back to SpaceX facilities in McGregor, Texas. As soon as it reaches McGregor, the Dragon spacecraft itself will more likely undergo testing and be prepared for reuse.

The cargo spacecraft brought back scientific experiments data, including technological and biological studies that were conducted in the microgravity of the space station. For instance, one experiment in biotechnology studied how micro-particles interact with each other as well as examined their delivery channel in the absence of gravitational forces as cited on IB TIMES.

The final batch of samples from former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly of the historic 1-year mission fame is also among the data cache. The said samples will be analyzed to advance our knowledge about the effects on the human body from long stays in space.

The milestone truly marked the first-ever landing of a spacecraft at sea. SpaceX repeated the achievement last May 6 along with the launching of the Japanese communications satellite JCSAT-14 from Cape Canaveral. The next SpaceX's Dragon cargo launch is at present scheduled for late June.