Connect with us

News

SpaceX Cargo Dragon ready for resupply trip to ISS

Cargo Dragon awaiting launch to the ISS at LC-39A (Credit Richard Angle/Teslarati)

Published

on

NASA and SpaceX are currently targeting the launch of the CRS-29 resupply mission to the International Space Station this evening at 8:28 p.m. ET (01:28 UTC on the 10th).

The CRS-29 mission, the 9th in the Phase 2 portion of the contract awarded to SpaceX by NASA, will deliver 6,500 lbs (9,600 kg) of supplies and new experiments to the orbiting outpost and will stay docked for a month before returning to Earth.

If the launch occurs on time, Cargo Dragon will autonomously dock to the Harmony module on the Space Station at 3:45 am ET Saturday morning.

Advertisement

A brief showcase of some of the experiments flying on this mission:

ILLUMA-T – This will test better communications from the ground to the space station to be able to send more images and videos via laser and is faster than using traditional radio signals.

NASA’s AWE – This experiment will use infrared imaging to measure atmospheric gravity waves, which can affect on-ground and space-based communications.

Aquamembrane 3 – The ESA’s continuing investigation into replacing “multi-filtration beds used for water recovery.” The agency is looking to replace that with a membrane found in biological cells, aquaporin. These are able to filter water faster and more efficiently than the current system.

Forty rodents will also be flying to the ISS, with 20 of them returning when the CRS 29 mission is complete.

Advertisement

Many more experiments and supplies are flying on this mission, but with Thanksgiving this month, crews will receive some “holiday treats” to add something different to the meals from their usual menu.

This launch was initially scheduled to occur on the 5th of the month, but there was an issue due to a leak of an NTO (nitrogen tetroxide) valve on the Dragon spacecraft, SpaceX crews were able to successfully replace the valve and adjust to the new launch date.

As for the vehicles launching this mission, both are on their 2nd flights. Booster 1081 is assigned for this mission, having previously launched Crew 7 to the ISS and Cargo Dragon C211, which previously launched to the ISS on the CRS 26 mission.

After lift-off, B1081 will perform a boostback burn and land at LZ-1 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Weather shouldn’t be an issue for tonight’s launch; the 45th Weather Squadron predicts a 95% chance of acceptable weather for the instantaneous launch window. If a technical issue prevents launch, there is a backup opportunity 24 hours later with a 90% chance of acceptable weather.

Advertisement

Watch the launch live below on NASA’s YouTube channel!

Questions or comments? Shoot me an email at rangle@teslarati.com, or Tweet me @RDAnglePhoto.

Launch journalist, specializing in launch photography. Based on the Space Coast, a short drive from Cape Canaveral and the SpaceX launch pads.

Advertisement
Comments

Elon Musk

Elon Musk sends stern warning to Tesla vandals, doubters

Elon Musk sent another warning to vandals that have attacked Tesla for political reasons.

Published

on

NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Elon Musk has sent a stern warning to Tesla vandals, doubters, and attackers, who have subjected the company and its owners to political violence through arson and other modes of retaliation.

Over the past few months, Tesla showrooms and vehicles have been hit with numerous attacks from those who have opposed Musk and his political involvement with the Trump Administration. Although Musk has stepped back from his role within government significantly since the start of May, the company is still looked at as a political target.

While the White House has put a clear-cut line on the acts, calling them domestic terrorism and holding those responsible for the damage they have done, there are still numerous and daily instances of keying cars or worse.

Yesterday, Musk continued to send stern warnings to those who oppose Tesla and choose to handle their distaste for the company with violence and vandalism. In a Bloomberg interview at the Qatar Economic Forum, Musk was asked if he took what has happened to Tesla “over the past few months personally.”

Musk replied simply but sternly: “Yes.”

Advertisement

He went on to say that not only will those who vandalized the company and its products owned by consumers be held to the fullest extent of the law, but also those who fund it.

Musk also said during a CNBC interview yesterday that very few people buy a company’s products because of the CEO’s political beliefs, and many people do not even know where those CEOs stand on various social issues.

Advertisement

Although Musk has gone out of his way to be transparent about his beliefs, he has a valid point. He obviously felt that, because of his influence, he held a duty to uphold American values and protect what he felt was an attack on free speech and human rights.

Disagreeing with Musk and his political stances is totally reasonable, but damaging products that consumers bought from his companies is not impacting him directly. Instead, it is making consumers’ lives more difficult.

Continue Reading

News

Tesla Model 3 gets perfect 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating

Tesla prides itself on producing some of the safest vehicles on the road today.

Published

on

Credit: Tesla Singapore/X

Tesla prides itself on producing some of the safest vehicles on the road today. Based on recent findings from the Euro NCAP, the 2025 Model 3 sedan continues this tradition, with the vehicle earning a 5-star overall safety rating from the agency.

Standout Safety Features

As could be seen on the Euro NCAP’s official website, the 2025 Model 3 achieved an overall score of 90% for Adult Occupants, 93% for Child Occupants, 89% for Vulnerable Road Users, and 87% for Safety Assist. This rating, as per the Euro NCAP, applies to the Model 3 Rear Wheel Drive, Long Range Rear Wheel Drive, Long Range All Wheel Drive, and Performance All Wheel Drive.

The Euro NCAP highlighted a number of the Model 3’s safety features, such as its Active Hood, which automatically lifts during collisions to mitigate injury risks to vulnerable road users, and Automatic Emergency Braking System, which now detects motorcycles through an upgraded algorithm. The Euro NCAP also mentioned the Model 3’s feature that prevents initial door opening if someone is approaching the vehicle’s blind spot.

Standout Safety Features

In a post on its official Tesla Europe & Middle East account, Tesla noted that the company is also introducing new features that make the Model 3 even safer than it is today. These include functions like head-on collision avoidance and crossing traffic AEB, as well as Child Left Alone Detection, among other safety features.

“We also introduced new features to improve Safety Assist functionality even further – like head-on collision avoidance & crossing traffic AEB – to detect & respond to potential hazards faster, helping avoid accidents in the first place. 

Advertisement

“Lastly, we released Child Left Alone Detection – if an unattended child is detected, the vehicle will turn on HVAC & alert caregivers via phone app & the vehicle itself (flashing lights/audible alert). Because we’re using novel in-cabin radar sensing, your Tesla is able to distinguish between adult vs child – reduced annoyance to adults, yet critical safety feature for kids,” Tesla wrote in its post on X.

Below is the Euro NCAP’s safety report on the 2025 Tesla Model 3 sedan.

Euroncap 2025 Tesla Model 3 Datasheet by Simon Alvarez on Scribd

Continue Reading

Elon Musk

USDOT Secretary visits Tesla Giga Texas, hints at national autonomous vehicle standards

The Transportation Secretary also toured the factory’s production lines and spoke with CEO Elon Musk.

Published

on

Credit: Elon Musk/X

United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Sean Duffy recently visited Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas complex, where he toured the factory’s production lines and spoke with CEO Elon Musk. In a video posted following his Giga Texas visit, Duffy noted that he believes there should be a national standard for autonomous vehicles in the United States.

Duffy’s Giga Texas Visit

As could be seen in videos of his Giga Texas visit, the Transportation Secretary seemed to appreciate the work Tesla has been doing to put the United States in the forefront of innovation. “Tesla is one of the many companies helping our country reach new heights. USDOT will be right there all the way to make sure Americans stay safe,” Duffy wrote in a post on X. 

He also praised Tesla for its autonomous vehicle program, highlighting that “We need American companies to keep innovating so we can outcompete the rest of the world.”

National Standard

While speaking with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the Transportation Secretary stated that other autonomous ride-hailing companies have been lobbying for a national standard for self-driving cars. Musk shared the sentiment, stating that “It’d be wonderful for the United States to have a national set of rules for autonomous driving as opposed to 50 independent sets of rules on a state-by-state rules basis.”

Duffy agreed with the CEO’s point, stating that, “You can’t have 50 different rules for 50 different states. You need one standard.” He also noted that the Transportation Department has asked autonomous vehicle companies to submit data. By doing so, the USDOT could develop a standard for the entire United States, allowing self-driving cars to operate in a manner that is natural and safe.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending