A SpaceX Dragon launched from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Credit: NASA.

SpaceX has launched its 14th cargo mission to the International Space Station (ISS) from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, US.

The mission is part of Nasa’s Commercial Resupply Services contract. It is carrying more than 5,800lb of research investigations and equipment, cargo and supplies on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

The spacecraft was launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and its supplies are set to support dozens of the 250 investigations taking place on-board the ISS.

It will be captured by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Norishige Kanai and Nasa astronaut Scott Tingle using the station’s robotic arm.

Dragon is carrying the new Materials ISS Experiment Flight Facility (MISSE-FF), which has been designed by Alpha Space and sponsored by Centre for the Advancement of Science in Space.

“The spacecraft is expected to begin its return journey to Earth next month with more than 3,500lb of research, hardware and crew supplies.”

MISSE-FF offers a platform to test the reaction of materials when they are exposed to ultraviolet radiation, atomic oxygen, ionising radiation, ultra-high vacuum, charged particles, thermal cycles, electromagnetic radiation, and micro-meteoroids in the low-Earth orbit environment.

Dragon has also taken the Canadian Space Agency’s Bone Marrow Adipose Reaction: Red or White (MARROW) study, which is designed to look at the effects of microgravity on bone marrow and the blood cells it produces.

The Passive Orbital Nutrient Delivery System (PONDS) travelling on Dragon has been designed to cultivate leafy greens using a newly developed passive nutrient delivery system and the Veggie plant growth facility currently on-board the ISS.

According to Nasa, understanding how plants respond to microgravity is important for future long-duration space missions where crews will be required to grow their own food.

In addition, Dragon is carrying an Earth observatory that will study severe thunderstorms and their role in the Earth’s atmosphere and climate.

The spacecraft is expected to begin its return journey to Earth next month with more than 3,500lb of research, hardware and crew supplies.