The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked with the orbiting International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday morning. When they docked, the ISS was in low orbit space over the Pacific Ocean. 

The current mission is known as CRS-26. Specifically, it is the 26th cargo flight flown by SpaceX for NASA to the ISS. It first started flying these missions in 2012.

The launch was originally scheduled for Tuesday (November 22). But an onboard coolant leak in the company's cargo capsule caused delays. After repairs and some bad weather, the Dragon set on top of a Falcon 9 rocket and lifted off on Saturday (November 26) at 2:20 p.m.

The launch from Florida's Kennedy Space Center was the 52nd US-based space mission launched in 2022.

The SpaceX Dragon freight craft was loaded with 7,700 pounds (3,500 kilograms) of cargo. This includes ship upgrades, supplies, and food for the astronauts.  

SpaceX Dragon delivers experiments to the lab

After the ship docked, Josh Cassada radioed Mission Control, "We're excited to unpack and get to work."

Mission Control's Megan Harvey let the NASA astronaut know that "Hopefully you can enjoy your well-deserved and long-awaited ice cream soon." 

The cargo included upgrades for the ISS. Two new Roll Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs) were on the manifest. The crew will install them to augment the orbiting lab's existing solar wings. 

Spacewalking astronauts previously installed two iROSAs. And eventually, there will be six, to help boost the station's power supply by 20% to 30%. 

The SpaceX Dragon also loaded a myriad of scientific experiments onto the ISS. 

Some of the best projects from the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program, the Girl Scouts of America, and Space Kids Global made it onto the ship. The student experiments, as well as, experiments designed by companies, universities, and research institutes, will all be tracked. 

One investigation will observe the effects of microgravity using 3D-cultured heart tissue. Testing various types of therapies that could prevent or slow the development of cardiac disease.

Using the space environment to investigate biomedical, cellular and even insects has led to discoveries in the past.

Mission CRS-26 will remain linked to the ISS for 45 days. And will end with a parachute-aided splashdown in the ocean. The Dragon designed by SpaceX is the only operational cargo craft that returns to Earth in one piece following a mission.

The other two active space freighter crafts, Northrop Grumman's Cygnus vehicle and Russia's Progress craft burn up when they hit Earth’s atmosphere after their mission is completed.