NASA’s SpaceX 33rd commercial resupply mission successfully launched on August 24, 2025, delivering vital supplies and scientific investigations to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission lifted off at 2:45 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, utilizing the Falcon 9 rocket.
The Dragon spacecraft is carrying more than 5,000 pounds of cargo, which includes essential items for the ISS crew and a range of scientific experiments. Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy emphasized the significance of these missions, stating, “Commercial resupply missions to the International Space Station deliver science that helps prove technologies for Artemis lunar missions and beyond.”
Innovative Experiments for Future Missions
This resupply mission features groundbreaking experiments aimed at advancing space exploration. Among the key objectives, the mission will test 3D printing of metal parts and bioprinting of tissue in microgravity. Such technologies are expected to enhance the tools and medical support available to astronauts on future lunar and Martian missions.
The Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to autonomously dock with the ISS at approximately 7:30 a.m. EDT on August 25. Live coverage of the docking event will be available on several platforms, including NASA+, Netflix, and Amazon Prime.
In addition to food and supplies, the spacecraft will transport critical scientific materials, including bone-forming stem cells to study bone loss prevention and materials for creating medical implants that could improve treatments for nerve damage on Earth. Moreover, Dragon will deliver bioprinted liver tissue for research into blood vessel development in microgravity, alongside supplies for 3D printing metal cubes in orbit.
These experiments represent just a fraction of the hundreds of ongoing biology, biotechnology, physical sciences, and Earth science investigations conducted aboard the ISS, all of which contribute to human benefits on Earth while preparing for deep space missions.
Maintaining the Space Station’s Orbit
As part of its mission, Dragon will also execute a reboost demonstration to maintain the ISS’s altitude. This involves using a boost kit located in the spacecraft’s trunk, which contains an independent propellant system to fuel two Draco engines. This capability was first demonstrated during NASA’s SpaceX 31st commercial resupply mission on November 8, 2024.
The Dragon spacecraft is expected to remain at the ISS until December 2025, when it will return to Earth, splashing down off the coast of California with research and cargo.
For more information about the International Space Station, visit NASA’s dedicated page at https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station-end.
