SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft undocks from ISS with over 1,800 kg of supplies; see pics

SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft undocked with International Space Station (ISS) on August 19 and is now heing for a splashdown into Atlantic Ocean, off coast of Florida. According to NASA, spacecraft departed from space station at 8:35 pm last night with around 1,814 kg (over 4,000 pounds) of scientific investigations and supplies.

SpaceX said that capsule will cover a 28-hour-long journey before re-entering Earth's atmosphere for splashdown at 12:17 am IST on August 21.  

company even shared spectacular pictures of Dragon capsule that were captured from space station after it undocked from  forward port of Harmony module. spacecraft arrived at ISS on July 16 as part of  25th commercial resupply services mission which SpaceX launched for NASA. 

Watch Dragon undock from ISS

Dragon spacecraft was caught departing space station in a spectacular video that was shared on space station's Twitter handle. Besides, SpaceX also shared a short clip of capsule firing its Draco thrusters to move away from ISS and begin its journey to Earth.

As for supplies being sent back, y include data from multiple experiments such as mapping Earth's dust to determine ir impact on climate change, studying effects of microgravity on aging of cells, and examining change in metabolism of soil microbes in space. Once on Earth, scientists will analyse results of se experiments.

Interestingly, NASA h also sent experiments to determine how microgravity affects process of creating an alternative of concrete me with organic material and on-site materials. se on-site materials can be lunar or Martian soil and tapping into this technology could one day help build bases on Moon and Mars without carrying construction materials from Earth.

"se are just a few of hundreds of investigations currently being conducted aboard orbiting laboratory in areas of biology and biotechnology, physical sciences, and Earth and space science", NASA said in a statement. "vances in se areas will help keep astronauts healthy during long-duration space travel and demonstrate technologies for future human and robotic exploration beyond low-Earth orbit".