SpaceX's Dragon cargo capsule is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station and return to Earth today, June 16. Space.com will provide live coverage of the departure.
Dragon spacecraft regularly ferry supplies and experiments to and from the orbiting laboratory. Each mission follows a standard cycle: launch, docking at the ISS, cargo transfer, undocking, and splashdown in the ocean. The capsule's return marks the completion of another cargo resupply mission supporting the station's six-person crew and their ongoing research operations.
Dragon's design includes a heat shield that protects the capsule during re-entry through Earth's atmosphere. The spacecraft uses parachutes to slow its descent before splashing down in the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean, where recovery teams retrieve it for refurbishment and reuse on future missions. SpaceX has flown dozens of cargo Dragon missions since first reaching the ISS in 2012, making it one of the most reliable vehicles in the commercial cargo program.
The mission represents continuous execution of NASA's Commercial Cargo Program, which contracted SpaceX and Northrop Grumman to maintain regular supply chains to the station. Dragon's ability to carry both pressurized and unpressurized cargo, combined with its return capability, makes it essential for supporting long-duration spaceflight. Unlike some competitor vehicles, Dragon can bring substantial payloads back to Earth, enabling researchers to recover experiments and samples that require the microgravity environment of orbit.
Viewers interested in watching the undocking and departure can tune into live streams through Space.com and NASA's official channels.