Ants, avocadoes, robotic arm: SpaceX’s latest delivery for ISS

A SpaceX shipment of ants, avocados and a human-sized robotic arm rocketed toward the International Space Station on Sunday. The delivery is the company’s 23rd for NASA in the last decade. A Falcon rocket shot up from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Soon after hoisting the Dragon capsule, it landed straight-up on SpaceX’s newest ocean platform called “A Shortfall of Gravitas.” 

The Dragon is carrying over 2,170 kg of supplies and experiments, and fresh food including avocados, lemons and even ice cream for the space station’s seven astronauts.

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The Girl Scouts are sending up ants, brine shrimp and plants as test subjects, while University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists are flying up seeds from mouse-ear cress, a small flowering weed used in genetic research. Samples of concrete, solar cells and other materials also will be subjected to weightlessness.

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An experimental robotic arm by a Japanese start-up company, in the meantime, will try to screw items together in its orbital debut and perform other mundane chores done by astronauts usually. “The first tests will be done inside the space station. Future models of Gitai Inc.’s robot will venture out into the vacuum of space to practice satellite and other repair jobs,” said chief technology officer Toyotaka Kozuki.

“As early as 2025, a squad of these arms could help build lunar bases and mine the moon for precious resources,” he added.

Due to COVID-19, SpaceX had to skip a few experiments because of the delays. 

It was the second launch attempt; Saturday’s try was foiled by stormy weather.

NASA turned to SpaceX and other US companies to deliver cargo and crews to the space station, once the space shuttle program ended in 2011.

(With Inputs from Associated Press)