The upcoming departure of the cargo space shuttle Cargo Dragon from the International Space Station is expected no sooner than December 19, Moscow time, according to the US space agency. Officials from NASA confirmed the timetable after reviewing weather conditions and mission readiness for the over-ocean reentry and retrieval sequence. The shift in schedule reflects NASA’s cautious approach to processing cargo missions while ensuring the safety of both the ISS crew and recovery teams on the ground.
Initially, SpaceX’s vehicle was planned to depart the space station in the previous week. However, the plan underwent multiple postponements—six in total—driven by unfavorable weather over the Atlantic where the landing operations are planned to take place. This weather dependency is a common factor in cargo missions, as sea states, winds, and other meteorological variables can influence the precise timing of major spacecraft maneuvers and the stability of recovery operations.
The agency noted that if meteorological conditions improve along the Florida coast, Cargo Dragon will undock from the ISS at 17:05 Eastern Time on Wednesday, which corresponds to 01:05 Moscow time on Thursday. This timing corresponds to a delicate sequence that includes detaching the spacecraft from the truss, initiating deorbit procedures, and guiding the capsule through a controlled descent toward a designated splashdown area in the Atlantic. NASA emphasizes that exact times are contingent on real-time weather assessments and vehicle health checks, and teams remain ready to adjust as needed to maximize safety and mission success.
On December 11, Cargo Dragon completed a successful docking with the ISS as part of the 29th commercial resupply mission, delivering roughly three tons of essential supplies. The cargo included food provisions for crew members, experimental equipment, and materials required to support ongoing scientific investigations aboard the station. The mission underscores the ongoing collaboration between NASA and private industry to sustain life-supporting logistics, enable cutting-edge research, and maintain continuous human presence in low Earth orbit.
Earlier remarks from the chief designer highlighted the relatively small number of Russian experiments currently conducted on the ISS, reflecting a broader mix of international scientific initiatives aboard the platform. The statement underlines how diverse international collaboration remains a hallmark of ISS research, with multiple nations contributing to a wide array of experiments and investigations that advance knowledge across disciplines.