SpaceX CRS-35 Delivers Final Solar Arrays and Science Cargo to ISS

Key points

• SpaceX launched the CRS-35 mission from Cape Canaveral at 6:33 a.m. EDT on October 13, 2026, using a Falcon 9 rocket.
• The mission carried over 6,300 pounds of cargo, including the fourth and final pair of Roll-Out Solar Arrays (ROSA) for the ISS.
• The Falcon 9 booster, tail number B1096, completed its eighth flight and landed at Landing Zone 40 less than 7.5 minutes after launch.
• The Cargo Dragon spacecraft, tail number C211, separated from the upper stage and is scheduled to dock with the Harmony module on October 15.
• The cargo includes experiments on unconventional glass, artificial retinas, 3D heart tissues, and brain organoids for neurodegenerative diseases.

Background

This launch follows the return of the Crew-12 astronauts to Earth on October 8, 2026, after a 237-day mission. The CRS-35 mission is part of NASA's ongoing Commercial Resupply Services program, which has been delivering cargo to the ISS since 2012. The Roll-Out Solar Arrays were first demonstrated on the CRS-11 mission in 2017.

How outlets are covering it

Spaceflight Now and NASA emphasized the technical details of the launch and the significance of the final ROSA installation. FOX 13 Tampa Bay and the Hilton Head Island Packet focused on the visual phenomenon of the 'space jellyfish' observed by residents in Florida and South Carolina, respectively. NASA highlighted the scientific experiments, including those on unconventional glass and brain organoids, while Spaceflight Now noted the reuse of the Falcon 9 booster for its eighth flight.

Why it matters

The delivery of the final ROSA pair is crucial for enhancing the ISS's power capacity, supporting future missions like the Space Reactor 1 Freedom. The scientific experiments aboard the Dragon capsule aim to advance technologies for space exploration and medical applications on Earth, such as artificial retinas and drug testing.

What to watch

The Dragon spacecraft is expected to dock with the ISS on October 15 and remain there until mid-November, when it will return to Earth with completed experiments and cargo. NASA will host a media teleconference on October 8 to preview the launch and provide updates on the Crew-12 return.