SpaceX launched ants, avocados, robotic arm to Space station

WHY IN THE NEWS?

SpaceX launched shipments of ants, avocados, human-sized robotic arms toward the International Space Station on August 29, 2021.

About:

• The delivery of shipments is due to arrive on August 30, 2021.
• It will be SpaceX’s 23rd mission for NASA in a decade.
• The Dragon is carrying more than 2,170 kilograms of supplies and experiments as well fresh food like avocados, lemons and ice cream for seven astronauts of the space station.
• The Girl Scouts have sent ants, brine shrimp and plants as test subjects.
• University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists sent seeds from mouse-ear cress which is a small flowering weed used in genetic research.
• Samples of concrete, solar cells and other materials will be subjected to weightlessness.

Falcon Rocket

Recycled Falcon rocket was blasted into predawn sky from Kennedy Space Center of NASA. The first-stage booster was landed on newest ocean platform called “A Shortfall of Gravitas” of SpaceX, after hoisting the Dragon capsule. The booster-recovery vessel was named so, in tribute to the late science fiction writer Iain Banks and his Culture series.

Robotic arm

Dragon is also carrying a robotic arm by a Japanese start-up company. It will attempt to screw items together in its orbital debut as well as perform other mundane chores that are normally done by astronauts. The first tests will be conducted inside the space station.  According to the company, a squad of these arms could help in building lunar bases and mine the moon for precious resources as early as 2025.