SpaceX launched its CRS-34 mission to the International Space Station on Friday, May 15, 2026, after two previous attempts were scrubbed due to poor weather. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 6:05 p.m. ET, carrying about 6,500 pounds of cargo and experiments. This marked the sixth flight for the Falcon 9’s first-stage booster, B1096, which landed on Landing Zone 40 shortly after stage separation. The Dragon spacecraft is expected to autonomously dock with the space station’s Harmony module at 7 a.m. ET on Sunday, May 17.
The mission was delayed twice earlier in the week. The first attempt on Tuesday, May 11, was scrubbed due to unfavorable weather conditions, and a second attempt on Wednesday was also called off for similar reasons. SpaceX officials cited persistent cloud cover and lightning risks as the primary concerns during the initial attempts. The successful launch comes as part of SpaceX’s long-term contract with NASA to resupply the ISS, with the company having completed 33 previous missions under the Commercial Resupply Services program.
NASA confirmed the cargo includes medical experiments, materials science research, and a project aimed at studying how Earth-based simulators replicate microgravity conditions. One notable payload is a bone scaffold made from wood, which researchers hope could lead to new treatments for fragile bone conditions. The mission also carries technology for the space station’s ongoing experiments, including equipment related to planetary formation studies. The Dragon spacecraft will remain docked for about a month before returning to Earth with scientific samples and used equipment.
This launch is part of a busy schedule for SpaceX at Cape Canaveral, which has seen multiple missions in recent weeks, including Starlink satellite deployments and a test flight for Project Kuiper’s broadband internet initiative. The success of CRS-34 underscores SpaceX’s reliability in executing complex space operations, even under challenging weather conditions. The next scheduled mission from the spaceport is set for early June, though details have not yet been disclosed.