NASA and SpaceX have officially rescheduled the undocking of the Dragon cargo capsule from the International Space Station (ISS) to May 23, after poor weather conditions at the splashdown site prompted a delay. Originally planned for May 22, the departure is now set for 12:05 p.m. EDT on Friday. The capsule, part of the CRS-32 mission, has been docked at the station since April 22 and is scheduled to return to Earth carrying scientific experiments and supplies. NASA will livestream the undocking event on its NASA+ platform, beginning at 11:45 a.m. EDT.

What is CRS-32 mission of SpaceX and NASA

The CRS-32 mission is the 32nd cargo delivery flight operated by SpaceX under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services program. Launched on April 21 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, the Dragon capsule arrived at the ISS a day later. It delivered approximately 6,700 pounds of food, hardware, and scientific research material.

What is the reason for delay

The departure was initially scheduled for May 22, but unfavorable weather at the Pacific Ocean splashdown zone forced the teams to postpone the undocking. Safety protocols require suitable sea conditions to ensure a smooth recovery of the spacecraft and its cargo. SpaceX and NASA are now targeting May 23, anticipating improved weather conditions for re-entry and splashdown operations.

Return cargo and experiments

The Dragon capsule will bring back a variety of scientific experiments, including samples from NASA’s MISSE-20 materials study, which evaluates how different materials withstand space conditions. Also on board are the Astrobee robotic assistant, technology demonstration hardware such as the REACCH system, and other items no longer needed on the station. Some non-recyclable waste will also be disposed of on re-entry.

Undocking and splashdown timeline

If undocking proceeds as planned at 12:05 p.m. EDT on May 23, the Dragon capsule will slowly maneuver away from the station. It will conduct a series of orbital adjustments before beginning its deorbit burn. The capsule is expected to splash down off the California coast early Sunday morning, May 25. Although NASA will broadcast the undocking live, the splashdown itself will not be webcast.

Unique capabilities of Dragon

SpaceX’s Dragon is currently the only operational cargo spacecraft capable of returning significant payloads safely to Earth. Other supply vehicles like Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus and Russia’s Progress are designed to burn up during reentry. This return capability makes Dragon essential for transporting completed experiments, station hardware, and other valuable cargo back to Earth.As part of an ongoing partnership between NASA and SpaceX, Dragon missions like CRS-32 support continuous research and resupply operations aboard the ISS. With future flights already scheduled, including both cargo and crewed missions, the success of each Dragon capsule recovery helps ensure reliability and continuity in space logistics.