2,000 kilograms worth of supplies are well on their way to the international space station thanks to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.

SpaceX launched its 21st rocket of the year overnight, sending a cargo capsule toward the International Space Station.

The Dragon capsule was attached to a two-stage Falcon 9 rocket which launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre at 3.14am Eastern Daylight Time.  

A rocket-full of supplies

More than 2,000kg of supplies are being transported in the capsule, including food and hardware.

A new robotic arm is also making its debut into space which will be tested inside the space station’s Bishop Airlock.

The innovative technology will be used to flip switches and push buttons to replicate an astronaut. 

Also on board are medical supplies, and a number of materials such as concrete and solar panels.

Such materials will be tested to see how they react in space, with a number of experiments to take place. 

While most of the capsule’s contents appear to be for research purposes, astronauts will also receive a treat with food and even ice-cream on its way to the space station.

A smooth landing

Less than eight minutes after takeoff, the Falcon 9 landed smoothly, touching down in the Atlantic Ocean. 

It landed on the newest of three drone ships, also known as “A Shortfall of Gravitas”.

The ship is the biggest of its kind and is part of a fleet of recovery vessels that catch falling boosters.

“That is the 90th successful landing of an orbital class rocket and the very first for our newest drone ship, ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas,'” Andy Tran of SpaceX said during a webcast.

“What a great way to start today’s mission.”

The dragon capsule is scheduled to arrive at the space station on Monday morning around 11am Eastern Daylight Time.

Written by Rebecca Borg