CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX's Cargo Dragon capsule is set to make its return to earth this week.
Originally scheduled to undock from the International Space Station Monday morning, SpaceX and NASA announced a no-go due to weather off the Florida coast near the splashdown site.
NASA says 5,200 pounds of scientific experiments and cargo will be inside the capsule when it splashes down off the coast of Florida. And, this will mark the first time a cargo resupply spacecraft lands in the Atlantic Ocean.
Cargo Dragon was set to undock with the ISS at 9:25 a.m. EST. We'll update you as soon as SpaceX and NASA announce a new undocking time. Astronaut Victor Glover, who is part of Crew 1 Dragon, is set to monitor the undocking aboard the ISS.
You can watch live on NASA TV here:
Among the experiments returning to earth from the space station is one made by two Hillsborough County students. According to the Osprey Observer, the experiment by then-Randall Middle School students Grace Kalnins and Lucas McMillin will be onboard the capsule.
The students' experiment, dubbed "Spinach on the Station," was created to determine the "frequency rate of germination of Giant Noble spinach in microgravity." Growing fresh spinach in space could help astronauts stay in space longer and be healthier during their continued stay in microgravity, according to the experiment.
This experiment was part of SSEP Mission 14. This mission also included an experiment from students in Pasco County, called "How will Microgravity affect the efficiency of Amoxicillin on S. Epidermidis?" It is not clear if this experiment is also returning to earth today.
NASA says other experiments returning to earth include a study on how microgravity affects the heart, emergency navigation for deep-space missions and vision impairment during spaceflights.
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