NASA and SpaceX set to launch solar arrays, 6,300‑lb cargo on Oct 13

It is the 35th CRS flight under NASA’s contract with SpaceX. SpaceX will launch a Falcon 9 rocket carrying new solar arrays and 6,300 pounds of cargo for the International Space Station at 6:33 a.m. EDT on October 13, 2026 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Dragon spacecraft will transport more than 6,300 pounds (about 2,860 kg) of supplies and equipment, including the final pair of ISS Roll‑Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs) stowed in the unpressurized trunk.

These iROSAs are intended to augment the station’s power generation. The Falcon 9 first‑stage booster B1096 will fly its eighth mission, while Dragon C211 will be on its fourth flight, having previously supported CRS‑26, CRS‑29 and CRS‑33. After a two‑day flight, Dragon is scheduled to dock autonomously with the space‑facing port of the Harmony module around 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) on October 15, 2026.

The spacecraft is expected to remain docked to the ISS for about one month before departing for splashdown off the coast of California. Science hardware aboard includes equipment to manufacture artificial retinas in microgravity for vision restoration on Earth. Also aboard are materials to study how microgravity affects the growth of 3D heart‑tissue models for large‑scale drug testing. The Dragon carries samples to investigate the formation of a new type of glass in microgravity.

Brain organoids are included to help identify treatment targets for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis. Additional cargo includes a dose pump for the station’s toilet, pre‑treat quality sensors, and a robot micro‑contical tool for external maintenance tasks.

Bill Spetch said, “Additional equipment we’re launching includes a dose pump for our toilet”. NASA will host a media teleconference on Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 1:15 p.m. EDT to preview the mission and provide a post‑splashdown update for Crew‑12, with participants Bill Spetch, Dr. Liz Warren, Lee Echerd (SpaceX senior mission manager) and Andreas Mogensen (ESA Human Exploration Group leader).