Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
NASA and SpaceX are targeting a mid-May launch for the 34th commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will carry about 6,500 pounds of scientific investigations, equipment, and supplies to the orbiting laboratory. The spacecraft will launch atop the company's Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Upon reaching the ISS, Dragon is expected to autonomously dock to the forward port of the station's Harmony module.
The mission will deliver several new science experiments to the ISS. These include ODYSSEY, which will compare bacterial behavior in microgravity with simulations on Earth; STORIE, designed to monitor charged particles affected by space weather that impact satellites and power grids; Laplace, investigating the movement and collisions of dust particles in microgravity to further planetary formation research; Green Bone, studying bone cell growth on a wood-based scaffold in microgravity to inform treatments for osteoporosis; and SPARK, which will examine changes to red blood cells and the spleen in space to support astronaut health on long-duration missions.
NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway and European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot are expected to oversee Dragon's arrival. The spacecraft will remain docked to the ISS for about a month before returning to Earth, bringing back critical scientific samples and hardware for researchers.