SpaceX‘s Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched NASA’s 35th commercial resupply mission, carrying scientific experiments, station supplies and the final pair of upgraded solar arrays to the International Space Station.
SpaceX launched a fresh shipment of scientific equipment and supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, sending more than 6,300 pounds of cargo into orbit aboard its Dragon spacecraft.
The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 6:33 a.m. EDT (10:33 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The flight marks NASA’s 35th Commercial Resupply Services mission, known as CRS-35.
While the mission delivers routine supplies to the orbiting laboratory, a major part of its cargo is intended to improve the station’s electricity-generating capacity. Dragon is carrying the final two Roll-Out Solar Arrays (ROSAs), alongside equipment supporting more than 40 scientific studies.
The spacecraft is expected to arrive at the ISS on Thursday, October 15, following a journey of approximately two days.
Falcon 9 Booster Returns After Its Eighth Flight
The launch also marked another completed flight for SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9 first-stage booster, identified as B1096.
Less than seven and a half minutes after liftoff, the booster returned to Landing Zone 40, located near its launch pad at Cape Canaveral. Its landing completed the booster’s eighth trip to space and back.
The return was accompanied by a sonic boom heard across the spaceport and surrounding areas.
Approximately two minutes after the booster landed, the Cargo Dragon spacecraft, designated C211, separated from the rocket’s upper stage and began its journey toward the ISS.
Cameras aboard the spacecraft captured images of the two solar array wings secured inside Dragon’s unpressurized trunk. Once delivered and installed, the arrays will help increase the station’s available electrical power.
Final Solar Array Pair to Strengthen ISS Power Supply
One of the most significant aspects of CRS-35 is the delivery of the fourth and final pair of Roll-Out Solar Arrays, built by Redwire Space.
Each array is designed to generate more than 20 kilowatts of electrical power and operate for more than a decade.
Unlike conventional rigid solar panels, the ROSA technology uses a deployment mechanism that allows the arrays to roll out in space.
NASA has spent years developing the technology and preparing the ISS for its installation. Several spacewalks have been conducted to make the necessary adjustments to the station’s existing infrastructure.
The development traces back to 2017, when NASA demonstrated the roll-out solar array concept during the CRS-11 mission.
Speaking during NASA’s post-launch broadcast, Gaurang Patel, operations integration manager for the agency’s Low Earth Orbit Program, recalled how the early demonstration helped establish the technology’s potential.
“It’s been quite the journey,” Patel said, referring to the years of development since the 2017 demonstration.
He explained that adapting the technology for the ISS presented additional engineering challenges because the station’s original solar arrays had not been designed for straightforward upgrades.
Engineers had to develop modification kits and mounting arrangements to safely attach the new arrays to the existing structure.
The technology’s applications may also extend beyond the ISS. A version of the ROSA system is planned for NASA’s Space Reactor 1 Freedom (SR-1 Freedom), which is scheduled to launch in 2028.
More Than 40 Scientific Studies Included in Dragon’s Cargo
Beyond its power system upgrades, the mission is bringing equipment needed for more than 40 scientific investigations aboard the ISS.
The research covers several fields, including biological studies, plant science and experimental materials.
One particularly interesting experiment involves testing an unconventional type of glass that could offer properties beyond those of traditional silica-based glass.
Ordinary glass is primarily made using silica, a material commonly found in sand. The experimental glass being studied uses heavier elements that are not typically associated with glass production.
According to Dr. Liz Warren, NASA’s deputy chief scientist within its ISS Office, these materials could have unusual physical and optical characteristics.
Potential properties include refractive indices higher than diamond, improved resistance to breaking and even the ability to contract rather than expand when heated.
Such characteristics could make the materials valuable for advanced optical systems and electronic applications.
Warren also highlighted their potential use in future space exploration.
“New types of glass like these could advance optics and electronics on Earth and supports space exploration with stronger, lighter, radiation-resistant, or higher-performing glass,” she said during a prelaunch press conference.
She added that the materials could eventually find applications in lunar rovers and habitats.
Dragon Scheduled to Dock With ISS on October 15
Following its successful separation from Falcon 9, Dragon C211 is travelling toward the International Space Station, where it is scheduled to dock at the space-facing port of the Harmony module on Thursday morning.
NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk will monitor the spacecraft’s arrival.
The Dragon spacecraft is expected to remain attached to the station for approximately one month.
During its stay, the delivered supplies and research equipment will support scientific work aboard the orbiting laboratory, while the newly arrived solar arrays will await installation as part of the station’s power system improvements.
The Significance Of CRS-35 Mission
The CRS-35 launch brings together two important aspects of the International Space Station’s ongoing operations: maintaining a steady flow of essential cargo and upgrading infrastructure that was not originally designed for simple replacement.
The arrival of the final ROSA pair represents the culmination of an upgrade effort that began with a technology demonstration nearly a decade ago.
At the same time, the scientific equipment carried by Dragon will allow researchers to investigate biological processes, plant science and materials that could have applications both on Earth and in future space missions.
With Falcon 9’s booster safely recovered and Dragon now making its way to the station, the next major milestone will be Thursday’s scheduled docking.
For NASA and its commercial partners, CRS-35 is another step in keeping the ISS supplied, expanding its research capabilities and preparing its infrastructure for continued use.
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