In a last-minute decision, a SpaceX cargo Dragon spacecraft’s undocking from the International Space Station (ISS), initially scheduled for today, has been postponed. The delay is attributed to unfavorable weather at the intended splashdown site off the California coast.

NASA announced, "We are standing down from Thursday’s undocking opportunity for Dragon, which is filled with significant science payloads. We are continually monitoring the weather conditions, and they currently do not support safe splashdown operations."

The next possible undocking is set for Friday, May 23, with a weather status update scheduled for noon on Thursday. Space enthusiasts can catch the undocking live on NASA’s streaming platform, NASA+, and also through high-definition live feeds from cameras situated on the ISS.

Once the Dragon spacecraft successfully undocks, it will drift a safe distance away from the ISS before executing a series of deorbit burns, setting course for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean planned for the following day. While there won’t be a live feed for the splashdown, updates will be provided on NASA's ISS blog.

Mission CRS-32: A Cargo Marvel in Action

This mission, known as CRS-32, marks SpaceX's 32nd flight under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services program. Launching on April 21 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, the Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS a day later. It delivered an impressive 6,700 pounds (3,040 kilograms) of food, equipment, and scientific experiments to the astronauts on board.

The Dragon isn’t just delivering goods to space; it’s also set to return with valuable cargo. Packed inside are exterior material samples from the Multi-Purpose International Space Station Experiment (MISSE-20), an Astrobee robot, along with the REACCH technology demonstration and other various experiments. Furthermore, it will carry back non-recyclable items from the ISS, marking a critical aspect of this vital two-way cargo mission.

Dragon: A Unique Spacecraft for Two-Way Deliveries

Notably, Dragon stands out as the only operational cargo vehicle capable of making such two-way trips. Competing craft like Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus and Russia’s Progress are designed to disintegrate upon reentry, while Dragon offers a reliable method for transport to and from the ISS.