Overnight tonight, SpaceX and NASA will launch Falcon 9 with a Cargo Dragon bound for the International Space Station. Along with the foodstuffs and normal cargo aboard CRS-32, there are also some thirty experiments that astronauts will conduct aboard the ISS-NL orbiting outpost. One of them will test Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity.
NASA and SpaceX are set to launch the 32nd Commercial Resupply mission to the International Space Station from Kennedy Space Center on Monday. Launch time is set for 04:15:34 AM Monday morning in an instantaneous window.
The flight Falcon 9’s first stage will land a few miles south at Landing Zone 1 in Cape Canaveral about 7-8 minutes after liftoff. That being said, a sonic boom will rattle the Space Coast area not long after the rumble of the liftoff fades.
This mission marks the 12th under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services-2 (CRS-2) contract with SpaceX.
| Mission | SpaceX CRS-32 |
|---|---|
| Organization | SpaceX |
| Location | Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 |
| Pad | Launch Complex 39A |
| Status | Go for Launch |
| Status Info | Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources. |
| Window Opens | Monday, 04/21/2025 4:15:34 AM EDT |
| Window Closes | Monday, 04/21/2025 4:15:34 AM EDT |
| Destination | Low Earth Orbit |
| Mission Description | The 32nd Commercial Resupply Services mission to the International Space Station operated by SpaceX. This flight, conducted under NASA’s CRS-2 contract, will deliver approximately 6,700 pounds of supplies and payloads, including critical materials to directly support science and research investigations onboard the orbiting laboratory. Notable experiments include studies on nanomaterial production, drug manufacturing advancements, and novel materials for aerospace, defense, energy, and robotics. The Cargo Dragon spacecraft, C209, is scheduled to autonomously dock to the station’s Harmony module and remain for about one month before returning to Earth with research and hardware for analysis. |
Weather forecasts for Cape Canaveral on Monday indicate mostly cloudy conditions with a high of 81°F (27°C) and a low of 68°F (20°C). These conditions are generally favorable for a successful launch.
Jimmy Taeger, a Launch Weather Officer of the 45th Weather Squadron of Space Launch Delta 45 said today that “Weather is looking really good for early next week. There’s a small chance of a cumulus cloud rule violation.”
“[That chance is] only about 10% for the primary launch day and the backup day, but that means 90% chance that the weather could be good,” Taeger concluded.
Online Viewing
NASA_ will have a livestream of the launch on their website and on YouTube: CRS-32 Launch. Coverage starts about fifteen minutes before liftoff.
Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link
For official updates regarding launch times, SpaceX.com is the best source of information. Starlink launch times change from time to time, and the company generally updates their website within minutes of the decision to change the launch time. This is very handy if none of the streaming options on YouTube have started their broadcasts.
Remember that there is a delay between a launch stream and the actual countdown clock. That is simply because of physics: it takes time for the signal to travel from the launch site, through the Internet, and back down to your phone, resulting in a five to fifteen-second delay.
Next Space Flight an app for iOS and Android phones, has a real-time countdown clock that is accurate to a second, give or take. The app is free. Search the App Store or Google Play. They are also on the web: nextspaceflight.com.
The best options for watching the launch: Northern Titusville parks on Washington Avenue / US-1 are your best bets: Space View Park, Sands Park, Rotary Riverfront Park.
The best options for watching the landing: beaches Cherie Down Park or 528W at the Banana River Bridge.
In the 1960’s digital computers were undergoing a radical change: a switch to integrated circuits and the central processing units (CPUs) that we all know and use today. The Saturn V was no different.
The Saturn V Instrument Unit (IU) served as the rocket’s central guidance and control system, housing the Launch Vehicle Digital Computer (LVDC) developed by IBM. The LVDC utilized magnetic core memory, a non-volatile storage technology composed of tiny magnetized rings that retained data without power. Each core memory module stored 4,096 words, with each word comprising 26 data bits and 2 parity bits, totaling 28 bits per word. These modules were integral to the LVDC’s operation, enabling reliable data storage and retrieval during the mission.
Axiom Space has released new information about the scientific and technological goals for its upcoming Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station, scheduled for launch no earlier than May 2025.
Commanded by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson (U.S.), the Ax-4 crew includes pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (India), mission specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (ESA/Poland), and mission specialist Tibor Kapu (Hungary). The team will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule from the Eastern Range no earlier than late May.
The mission will carry roughly 60 science and research payloads involving partners from 31 countries — including the U.S., India, Hungary, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, the UAE, and others across Europe. This marks the most research-driven mission Axiom has led to date, reinforcing the growing international momentum behind low-Earth orbit science and commercial space collaboration.
Much of the research on the mission will be driven by the crew members’ home countries, including experiments from India’s ISRO, Poland in partnership with the European Space Agency, Hungary’s HUNOR program, and the United States. Axiom is also collaborating with research institutions and universities to study how spaceflight affects the human body and how these insights can improve healthcare back on Earth.
![Ax-4 Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, Commander Peggy Whitson, and Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski [Right] have been training to live and work aboard the space station for the past eight months in preparation for their mission, which is targeted to launch no earlier than May 2025.](https://i0.wp.com/old-man-par.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/67ed572d67ee3f8a01fa865e_Ax4_Axiom_PAMIntegratedRoutineOps1_ALL_20241219_0771_Web.webp?resize=762%2C508&ssl=1)
Ax-4 is a key step in building a sustainable research and business environment in orbit — and in paving the way for Axiom Station, the company’s planned commercial space station.
Axiom has been making strides in getting their Station completed, launched and connected to ISS — a multi-pronged highly complex program. They recently demonstrated a successful detailed simulation of the capturing and attaching Axiom Station to ISS, a key milestone on the way towards launching the real thing sometime in 2027.
Axiom’s research program spans critical areas in space health and biology. Highlights include:
India’s space agency, ISRO, is running several biology and materials science experiments in partnership with NASA and ESA. Focus areas include:
With ESA support, Poland is conducting a wide-ranging scientific package focused on astronaut health, physiology, and advanced technology. Research will explore:
Hungary’s national space research initiative is contributing a diverse set of studies covering biology, physics, propulsion, and education:
On April 7, 2025, Sierra Space announced they are collaborating with Honda and Tec-Masters to test Honda’s high-differential pressure water electrolysis system aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This initiative aims to advance human habitation on the lunar surface and develop clean energy solutions applicable both in space and on Earth.
Honda is utilizing its experience in hydrogen fuel cell technology to create a regenerative fuel cell system, referred to as a circulative renewable energy system, designed to continuously generate oxygen, hydrogen, and electricity.
A critical element of this system is Honda’s high-differential pressure water electrolysis technology. Testing this technology on the ISS will assess its performance and dependability in a microgravity environment. This renewable fuel cell system aligns with Honda’s objective to offer advanced energy storage solutions that can support human life on the Moon.
Sierra Space will act as the mission manager for Honda, coordinating with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) and NASA to transport the necessary materials to the ISS using the Dream Chaser spaceplane. Tec-Masters, Inc. will serve as the technical payload integrator, leveraging its experience in ISS payload integration and certification. Sierra Space acknowledges the potential of this technology to transform energy storage and usage, offering scalable, renewable solutions.
Ken Shields, Senior Director of Business Development at Sierra Space, stated, “The future of innovation in space is not only commercialization, but teaming arrangements between like-minded companies to advance technology we never thought imaginable in previous decades.” He added, “As we prepare for our first Dream Chaser mission to the International Space Station, this new collaboration with Honda and Tec-Masters is an additional proof point to the varied applications of our spaceplane to provide commercial transport to the space station and beyond.”
Dream Chaser is particularly suited for this program due to its cargo capacity exceeding six tons and its ability to return critical payloads to Earth under low-gravity conditions, ensuring the preservation of valuable cargo upon re-entry.
Currently, Sierra Space’s first Dream Chaser spaceplane, Tenacity, is undergoing final testing at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in preparation for its inaugural mission to the ISS under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Service 2 (CRS-2) contract. Dream Chaser is currently slated for a launch in 2025, though no date has been specified.
Other Dream Chaser News On Talk Of Titusville
NASA and Boeing are advancing the certification process for Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft following its Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station (ISS). Joint teams are addressing in-flight anomalies and planning propulsion system tests in preparation for Starliner’s upcoming missions.
Boeing’s Crew Flight Test (CFT) of the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft encountered several technical challenges that impacted the mission:
These challenges prompted NASA and Boeing to conduct thorough investigations and implement corrective measures to ensure the spacecraft’s safety and reliability for future missions.
Ken Bowersox, NASA’s associate administrator for Space Operations, emphasized the importance of commercial partnerships: “NASA’s strategy for crew transportation is critical for assured access to space using American private industry.”
He further noted, “Our investment in commercial crew transportation capabilities is providing the needed flexibility to operate in space as safely as possible and respond to changes quickly when they arise. NASA is seeing the commitment from Boeing to adding the Starliner system to the nation’s crew transportation base.”
Since the uncrewed Starliner capsule’s return from the ISS, NASA and Boeing have analyzed post-flight data. Over 70% of flight observations and in-flight anomalies have been addressed at program-level control boards. Major in-flight propulsion system anomalies are expected to remain under review into 2025, pending outcomes of ground testing and potential system upgrades.
The agencies are finalizing the scope and timelines for propulsion system test campaigns and analyses scheduled for spring and summer. Testing at White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico will include integrated firing of key Starliner thrusters within a single service module doghouse. This aims to validate thermal models and inform potential propulsion and spacecraft thermal protection system upgrades.
Operational solutions under consideration involve adding thermal barriers within the doghouse to better regulate temperatures and modifying thruster pulse profiles in flight to prevent overheating. Concurrently, teams are testing new helium system seal options to mitigate the risk of future leaks.
Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, commented on the testing schedule: “Once we get through these planned test campaigns, we will have a better idea of when we can go fly the next Boeing flight.” He added, “We’ll continue to work through certification toward the end of this year and then go figure out where Starliner fits best in the schedule for the International Space Station and its crew and cargo missions. It is likely to be in the timeframe of late this calendar year or early next year for the next Starliner flight.”
Mission managers are planning for the next Starliner flight to be a crew-capable post-certification mission. However, NASA retains the flexibility to fly only cargo, depending on the agency’s needs.
One person that will not be a part of the next Starliner flight is Boeing Starliner CFT backup astronaut Mike Fincke. He has been assigned to Crew 11 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon.
Axiom Space announced today that the Ax-4 private mission to ISS will launch No Earlier Than May 2025. No specific launch date was given, and will be announced in the future as the launch draws closer. Commanded by veteran former NASA astronaut and current Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight Peggy Whitson, the crew of four will fly to ISS aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon.
The crew is scheduled to spend up to 14 days aboard the ISS, engaging in a variety of scientific research, outreach initiatives, and commercial activities.
In addition to Whitson, Shubhanshu Shukla, an officer in the Indian Air Force and astronaut with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will serve as the pilot. Mission specialists include Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, a project astronaut with the European Space Agency (ESA) representing Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Notably, this mission marks the first time astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary will visit the ISS, representing each nation’s first government-sponsored human spaceflight in over 40 years.
Ax-4 will be a busy mission, as it is slated to conduct approximately 60 scientific experiments and activities involving participants from 31 nations, such as the United States, India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates, and various European countries. This marks the highest number of research initiatives undertaken on an Axiom Space mission to the International Space Station (ISS) thus far, highlighting the mission’s global importance and collaborative spirit in advancing microgravity research in low-Earth orbit (LEO).
The mission places a particular emphasis on scientific endeavors led by the countries represented in the Ax-4 crew, including the United States, India, Poland (in collaboration with the European Space Agency), and Hungary. The research conducted will enhance global understanding in areas such as human health, Earth observation, and life, biological, and material sciences, reflecting the space research capabilities of the crew’s home countries.
Axiom Space is also collaborating with research organizations and academic institutions to further investigate the effects of spaceflight on the human body and to explore how space-based research can lead to improvements in health and medical treatments on Earth. The mission underscores the significance of commercial and academic partnerships, as Axiom Space spearheads the development of a global research community and a sustainable economic ecosystem in LEO. The mission also sets the stage for Axiom Station, the first commercial space station, which will provide a permanent platform for research, manufacturing, and human spaceflight.
What a long, strange trip it’s been: Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams finally concluded their never-ending story of Boeing’s Crewed Flight Test of Starliner yesterday when they landed in a SpaceX Crew Dragon in the Gulf of America near Tallahassee, Florida. Also aboard were NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, with the four of them designated as Crew 9 on ISS Expedition 71/72.
After a nominal re-entry, the four landed at 5:57 p.m. EDT. Recovery teams on SpaceX vessels secured the spacecraft and assisted the crew while being circled by curious dolphins. Following their arrival on shore, the astronauts began the return procedures: extensive medical checks followed by travel to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for debriefings and reunions with their families.
Boeing’s Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission was as an 8-10 day demonstration flight for Starliner to validate its capabilities in transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station. However, technical concerns, including issues with the spacecraft’s propulsion system, led NASA to opt for an uncrewed return of Starliner to conduct further testing and modifications before operational flights could commence.
For their part, Boeing disagreed with the decision, with the company arguing internally with NASA that Starliner was safe to ferry Williams and Williams back to Earth as planned. That was not to be, as NASA decided to fold the pair into Expedition 71/72 on ISS, and to bump two of the astronauts designated for Crew 9 — NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson — from the mission.
Starliner would eventually return to Earth uncrewed in September, 2024, safely completing its mission via remote control and on-board programming.
During their missions, Williams and Wilmore traveled 121,347,491 miles, spent 286 days in space, and completed 4,576 Earth orbits. Hague and Gorbunov covered 72,553,920 miles, remained in orbit for 171 days, and completed 2,736 orbits. This mission marked Gorbunov’s first spaceflight. Hague has accumulated 374 days in space across two missions, Williams 608 days over three missions, and Wilmore 464 days across three flights.
Due to the unexpected long-term mission, Williams is now in second place for time spent in space by a female astronaut. Former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson has accumulated a total of 675 days in space across multiple missions, making her the most experienced astronaut in terms of cumulative days, a record that Whitson will add to she commands the private Axiom Ax-4 mission to ISS later this year.
Crew-9’s mission included scientific research, maintenance operations, and technology demonstrations. Williams performed two spacewalks, partnering with Wilmore and Hague to remove a radio frequency antenna, collect external surface samples, and install protective patches on an X-ray telescope’s light filters. Williams set a new record for cumulative spacewalking time by a female astronaut, logging 62 hours and 6 minutes outside the station.
The crew conducted over 150 scientific studies and technology tests, dedicating more than 900 hours to research. Their work included plant growth experiments, stem cell technology investigations for treating blood disorders and cancer, and evaluations of circadian rhythm-supporting lighting systems. They also launched the first wooden satellite and studied microorganism survival in space by analyzing external samples from the station.
The mission marked the fourth flight of the Dragon spacecraft named Freedom, previously used for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 and Axiom Missions 2 and 3. Following retrieval, the spacecraft will undergo inspections and refurbishments at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in preparation for future missions.
Crew-9’s comes shortly after the launch and docking at ISS of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10, which completed the Crew 9 rotation. NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers; JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov will now spend several months aboard Station, and will advance the scientific and engineering work planned for their stay.
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will be returning to Earth this afternoon aboard Crew 9 after spending some 286 days in space. They and the two other Crew 9 astronauts, Nick Hague and Alexandr Grubonov will begin their fiery descent at around 5:11 PM ET, with a planned touchdown coming some forty-six minutes later at 5:57 PM ET.
NASA said this morning that Crew Dragon will splash down in the Gulf of America, relatively near Tallahassee, Florida.
Afterwards, SpaceX will begin recovery efforts on the capsule, leading to the astronauts and cosmonaut exiting Crew Dragon once it is brought aboard SpaceX’s recovery vessel at sea.
As first reported on LiveScience.com, one thing that may surprise casual viewers tuning in to see Wilmore and Williams exit the Crew Dragon capsule is the likelihood that they will be carried in stretchers after leaving the spacecraft. The same may happen with Crew 9 commander Nick Hague and Mission Specialist Alexandr Aleksandr Vladimirovich Gurbonov as well. Both Hague and Gurbonov will have spent 171 days in space when they return to Earth this afternoon.
Talk of Titusville asked NASA for more information, and they replied:
As part of standard procedures, all International Space Station astronauts are placed, or seated, on a mobility aid by recovery teams to assist the crew members returning to Earth’s gravity after several months in space.
After completing medical checks, astronauts are transferred to a waiting helicopter and are taken to a waiting NASA aircraft to return to Houston to be reunited with their friends and families. Then begins the process of post-medical evaluations and reclamation to Earth’s gravity environment.
This process differs for each individual, typically lasting several months, as the longer an astronaut spends in space, the more difficult it is to readapt to gravity. Astronauts returning to Earth after living aboard the space station for extended durations have exhibited balance control problems, muscle weakness, and cardiovascular deconditioning.
NASA’s Human Research Program continues to innovate and pursue the best methods and technologies to keep astronauts healthy during their missions and when they return home. The International Space Station is helping prepare humans for future long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars, including the exercise needed to address the challenges of living and working in microgravity for extended periods of time.
You can view the process during the recovery of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission, beginning at approximately 1:53:00 into the broadcast.
NASA, March 18, 2025
Typically, astronauts aboard the station dedicate two hours daily to exercise in order to counteract bone and muscle deterioration caused by weightlessness. Despite these efforts, Wilmore and Williams will undergo intensive rehabilitation in the coming weeks and months as their bodies readjust to the pull of gravity that almost all of us take for granted as part of our daily lives.
All four Crew 9 astronauts and cosmonaut will also receive extensive medical checks as part of the crew return procedure, and will also be greeted by family, friends and colleagues after their arrival in Texas.
Pending weather conditions at the splashdown sites, continuous coverage will resume on March 18 on NASA+ prior to the start of deorbit burn. As of the time of this writing, the schedule provided by NASA calls for:
The long journey of Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore and the Boeing Starliner mission is finally near its end: If everything goes according to plan, one of the most talked about journeys in American spaceflight will come to an end with a splashdown tomorrow evening somewhere off the coast of Florida.
NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams are set to return to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, concluding an unexpectedly extended stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The deorbit burn is scheduled for approximately 5:11 p.m. EDT, with splashdown anticipated around 5:57 p.m. EDT off the coast of Florida.
Wilmore and Williams launched to the ISS in June 2024 aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, initially slated for what was described an eight-day mission. However, technical issues with the Starliner, including thruster malfunctions and a helium system leak, rendered it unsafe for their return. Consequently, the spacecraft returned to Earth uncrewed, leaving the astronauts on Station for an extended period.
As a result of the unexpected issues with Starliner, NASA chose to add Wilmore and Williams to the ISS Expedition 71/72 roster. Both astronauts remained active and engaged throughout their prolonged mission, contributing significantly to the station’s objectives, with Williams taking command of ISS itself during her stay. The pair participated in over 150 experiments and observed various Earth phenomena from their unique vantage point. Despite the unforeseen extension, both maintained a positive outlook and never publicly complained about their unexpectedly long mission.
SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, launched on September 28, 2024, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Launch Complex 40. This mission was notable for being the first crewed launch from this particular complex. The Crew-9 spacecraft, named Freedom, carried NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov to the ISS, leaving behind NASA’s three-time space shuttle astronaut Stephanie Wilson and Zena Cardman, with both being reassigned to unspecified future missions.
For its part, Crew 9 also experienced several delays prior to launch, primarily due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft and scheduling conflicts with other missions on ISS. Originally planned for mid-August 2024, the launch was postponed to late September to accommodate these challenges.
The arrival of SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission on March 16, 2025, marked a significant milestone in facilitating the return of Wilmore and Williams. The Crew-10 spacecraft, carrying NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, successfully docked with the ISS, allowing for a seamless transition of responsibilities.
The docking occurred at 12:04 a.m. EDT, followed by hatch opening at 1:35 a.m. EDT. The new crew members were warmly welcomed aboard, with the station’s population temporarily increasing to 11. This handover period ensured continuity of operations and allowed Wilmore and Williams to brief their replacements before their departure.
Following the arrival of Crew-10, preparations for the return of Wilmore and Williams intensified. The Crew-9 spacecraft underwent thorough checks to ensure its readiness for re-entry and landing. Both astronauts expressed cautious excitement about returning home, acknowledging the inherent risks associated with re-entry but also their eagerness to reunite with family and resume life on Earth.
The extended stay of Wilmore and Williams garnered attention beyond the aerospace community. Public figures, including former President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, commented on the situation, with Musk referring to the upcoming return mission as a “rescue” operation.
However, both NASA and the astronauts refuted the notion that they were stranded in space or abandoned, emphasizing that their extended stay was a result of technical challenges and not political decisions. This set off a political firestorm, the intensity of which is rarely seen that involves spaceflight and NASA.
As the deorbit burn approaches, scheduled for approximately 5:11 p.m. EDT, mission teams are closely monitoring weather conditions and spacecraft systems to ensure a safe re-entry and landing. The splashdown is anticipated around 5:57 p.m. EDT off the coast of Florida, where recovery teams will be stationed to assist the returning astronauts.
In a press release today, NASA said that they and SpaceX met on Sunday, March 16th, to assess weather and splashdown conditions off Florida’s coast for the return of the agency’s Crew-9 mission from the International Space Station. Mission managers are targeting an earlier Crew-9 return opportunity based on favorable conditions forecasted for the evening of Tuesday, March 18. The updated return target continues to allow the space station crew members time to complete handover duties while providing operational flexibility ahead of less favorable weather conditions expected for later in the week.
NASA will provide live coverage of the agency’s SpaceX Crew-9 return to Earth from the International Space Station, beginning with Dragon spacecraft hatch closure preparations at 10:45 p.m. EDT Monday, March 17.
The successful end of the Crew 9 astronauts will finally end a long and controversial mission, and one that NASA surely hopes will never be repeated.
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