NASA Sends First DNA Sequencing Equipment To Space Station On SpaceX Dragon

American space agency NASA has sent the first ever DNA sequencing instruments and international docking adapter to space along with resupplies via SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft. The SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services-9 (CRS-9) mission was launched on Monday and is expected to reach the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday early morning.

"Each commercial resupply flight to the ISS is a significant event. Everything, from the science to the crew supplies to spare hardware, is vital for sustaining our mission," said Kirk Shireman, NASA's ISS Program manager. "With equipment to enable novel experiments never attempted before in space, and an international docking adapter vital to the future of U.S. commercial crew spacecraft, we are thrilled this Dragon has successfully taken flight." 

Incidentally, the mission is SpaceX's ninth cargo flight to the ISS, and the supplies being carried will be used for more than 250 science and research observations during the space station's Expeditions 48 and 49. Of particular interest is the DNA testing procedure that will be conducted aboard the space station. Called the Biomolecule Sequencer, the equipment will analyze how successfully EDNA sequencing can be conducted in a space laboratory. The process will include the use of a miniaturized device for identifying microbes, diagnosing diseases, monitoring health of the crew on the space lab as well as detecting life based on DNA off the Earth.

The Dragon will leave the ISS on Monday, Aug. 29, and is expected to land in the Pacific Ocean in a location near west of Baja California, and will return to shore with more than 1497 kilograms of spacewalk tools as well as crew, hardware and science supplies. Incidentally, the Dragon capsule was launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on the Falcon 9 rocket measuring 23 storey tall. SpaceX or Space Exploration Technolo-gies is owned by billionaire Elon Musk.