The International Space Station (ISS) serves as a pivotal platform for scientific research and international collaboration in space. As of December 1, 2020, the ISS was in a critical phase of its resupply operations, preparing for the upcoming launch of SpaceX's 21st Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-21) mission. This mission was set to deliver essential supplies, scientific experiments, and a new airlock to support the station's ongoing research and maintenance activities.

Preparation for CRS-21 Mission

On December 1, 2020, the ISS crew was engaged in various activities to prepare for the CRS-21 mission, scheduled for launch on December 5, 2020. The mission aimed to deliver over 6,400 pounds of cargo, including scientific investigations and the Nanoracks Bishop Airlock, the first commercially owned and operated airlock for the ISS. This airlock was designed to enhance the station's capabilities by facilitating the deployment of small satellites and supporting external payloads. The CRS-21 mission marked the first launch for SpaceX under NASA's second Commercial Resupply Services contract, CRS-2. ([blogs.nasa.gov](

Ongoing Research and Maintenance Activities

In addition to resupply preparations, the ISS crew was involved in several research and maintenance tasks. Astronaut Kate Rubins worked on stowing external experiments brought in from the Kibo laboratory module and cleaned the Advanced Plant Habitat after harvesting radishes for the Plant Habitat-02 experiment. This experiment aimed to cultivate radishes in space to assess nutritional value and growth parameters, contributing to the understanding of space-grown plants. ([](

Flight Engineer Victor Glover, along with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi, conducted a physical fitness test on the station's exercise bike to evaluate the impact of microgravity on their cardiopulmonary function. Such assessments are crucial for understanding the physiological effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body. ([](

Upcoming Launch and Docking

The CRS-21 mission was launched on December 6, 2020, at 11:17 a.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The upgraded Cargo Dragon spacecraft, carrying more than 6,400 pounds of cargo, including the Nanoracks Bishop Airlock, was scheduled to arrive at the ISS on December 7, 2020. This mission marked the first automated docking of a SpaceX cargo resupply spacecraft to the ISS, with the Dragon spacecraft autonomously docking to the station's Harmony module. ([blogs.nasa.gov](

Conclusion

As of December 1, 2020, the ISS was in a preparatory phase, focusing on resupply operations and ongoing scientific research. The successful launch and docking of the CRS-21 mission underscored the collaborative efforts between NASA and SpaceX to ensure the continuous operation and advancement of the ISS, facilitating critical research and international cooperation in space exploration.

Sources

  • NASA – SpaceX’s CRS-21 Underway; Upgraded Cargo Dragon En Route to Space Station –
  • NASA – NASA and SpaceX Target Dec. 2 for Next Resupply Launch –
  • NASA – Space Station On-Orbit Status 1 December 2020 – Cargo Resupply Preparations –
  • NASA – SpaceX’s CRS-21 Underway; Upgraded Cargo Dragon En Route to Space Station –
  • NASA – SpaceX launches new cargo Dragon to Space Station for 100th successful Falcon 9 flight –