The 38 flight experiments comprising the SSEP Mission 17 to ISS payload launched aboard SpaceX CRS-29 (SpaceX Commercial Resupply Service Mission 29) on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 8:28 pm EST from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida. About 7.5 minutes after launch the first stage landed back at Kennedy Space Center. In the long exposure photo above courtesy of Spaceflight Now, three milestone events taking place at different times are visible. At the bottom of the photo is the launch of SpaceX CRS-29. At the top, the first stage separates from the combined second stage and Dragon vehicle. The arc is the first stage returning to Earth and landing at Kennedy Space Center. The Dragon vehicle docked with the International Space Station on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at 5:07 am EST. The experiments returned to Earth on December 22, 2023, after being operated for 4 weeks by Astronauts Andreas Mogensen (ESA/Denmark) and Loral O’Hara (NASA/USA) (see their bios below).
Below are videos of all SSEP launches to date, information on astronauts operating the SSEP experiments on-orbit, and videos of astronaut operation.
Links to SSEP Missions:
- SSEP Mission 17 to ISS
- SSEP Mission 16 to ISS
- SSEP Mission 14C and 15B to ISS
- SSEP Mission 14B and 15A to ISS
- SSEP Mission 14A to ISS
- SSEP Mission 13 to ISS
- SSEP Mission 12 to ISS
- SSEP Mission 11 to ISS
- SSEP Mission 10 to ISS
- SSEP Mission 9 to ISS
- SSEP Mission 8 to ISS
- SSEP Mission 7 to ISS
- SSEP Mission 6 to ISS
- SSEP Mission 5 to ISS
- SSEP Mission 3B and Mission 4 to ISS
- SSEP Mission 3A to ISS
- SSEP Mission 2 to ISS
- SSEP Mission 1 to ISS
- SSEP on STS-135
- SSEP on STS-134
SSEP Mission 17 to ISS
Vehicle: SpaceX CRS-29
Launch: November 9, 2023 at 8:28 pm EST
Site: Space Launch Complex 39A, NASA Kennedy Space Center, FL
Payload Designation: SSEP19 – Orbiter, 39 experiments
SSEP Mission 17 Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
Mission 17 Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Astronauts on ISS that operated the Mission 17 experiments:
Andreas performed the A=0, A+2 and U-2 interactions on-orbit.
Andreas Mogensen (Denmark), ESA Astronaut [biography]
Twitter: Astro_Andreas
InstaGram: astro_andreas
Loral performed the U-14 and U-5 interactions on-orbit.
Loral O’Hara (USA), NASA Astronaut [biography]
Twitter: lunarloral
InstaGram: loralohara
SSEP Mission 16 to ISS
Vehicle: SpaceX CRS-26
Launch: November 26, 2022 at 2:20 pm ET
Site: Space Launch Complex 39A, NASA Kennedy Space Center, FL
Payload Designation: SSEP18 – Ranger, 24 experiments
SSEP Mission 16 Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
Mission 16 Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Astronauts on ISS that operated the Mission 16 experiments:
Frank performed the A=0 and U-5 interactions on-orbit.
Frank Rubio (USA), NASA Astronaut [biography]
InstaGram: astro_frankrubio
Josh performed the A+2 and U-14 interactions on-orbit.
Josh Cassada (USA), NASA Astronaut [biography]
InstaGram: astro_cassada
Twitter: astro_josh
Koichi performed the U-2 interactions on-orbit.
Koichi Wakata (Japan), ISS Crew Member [biography]
Twitter: Astro_Wakata
SSEP Mission 14C and Mission 15B to ISS
Vehicle: SpaceX CRS-23
Launch: August 29, 2021 at 3:14 am EDT
Site: Space Launch Complex 39A, NASA Kennedy Space Center, FL
Payload Designation: SSEP16 – Apollo, 1 of 33 experiments and SSEP17 – Skylab, 3 of 5 experiments
SSEP Mission 14 Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
SSEP Mission 15 Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
Mission 14 Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Mission 15 Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Astronauts on ISS that operated the Mission 14B experiments:
Shane performed the A=0 and A+2 interactions on-orbit.
Shane Kimbrough (USA), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter: @Astro_Kimbrough
InstaGram: astro_kimbrough
Megan performed the U-14 interactions on-orbit.
Megan McArthur (USA), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter: @Astro_Megan
InstaGram: astro.megan
Thomas performed the U-5 and U-2 interactions on-orbit.
Thomas Pesquet (France), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter: @Thom_astro
InstaGram: thom_astro
SSEP Mission 14B and Mission 15A to ISS
Vehicle: SpaceX CRS-22
Launch: June 3, 2021, 1:29 pm EDT
Site: Space Launch Complex 39A, NASA Kennedy Space Center, FL
Payload Designation: SSEP16 – Apollo, 3 of 33 experiments and SSEP17 – Skylab, 2 of 5 experiments
SSEP Mission 14 Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
SSEP Mission 15 Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
Mission 14 Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Mission 15 Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Astronauts on ISS that operated the Mission 14B experiments:
Megan performed the A+2, U-5 and U-2 interactions on-orbit.
Megan McArthur (USA), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter: @Astro_Megan
InstaGram: astro.megan
Thomas performed the U-14 interactions on-orbit.
Thomas Pesquet (France), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter: @Thom_astro
InstaGram: thom_astro
SSEP Mission 14A to ISS
Vehicle: SpaceX CRS-21
Launch: December 6, 2020, 11:17 am ET
Site: Space Launch Complex 39A, NASA Kennedy Space Center, FL
Payload Designation: SSEP16 – Apollo, 27 of 33 experiments
SSEP Mission 14 Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
Mission 14 Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Astronauts on ISS that operated the Mission 14A experiments:
Shannon performed the A=0 and A+2 interactions on-orbit
Shannon Walker (USA), Mission Specialist [biography]
Soichi performed the U-14, U-5 and U-2 interactions on-orbit
Soichi Noguchi (Japan), Mission Specialist [biography]
Twitter: @Astro_Soichi
InstaGram: astro.soichi
SSEP Mission 13 to ISS
Vehicle: SpaceX CRS-18
Launch: July 25, 2019, 6:01 pm ET
Site: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL
Payload Designation: SSEP15 – Gemini, 41 experiments
SSEP Mission 13 Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
Mission 13 Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Astronauts on ISS that operated the Mission 13 experiments:
Luca performed the A=0 interactions on-orbit
Luca Parmitano (ESA–Italy), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter: @Astro_Luca
Facebook: AstronautLucaParmitano
Christina performed the A+2 interactions on-orbit
Christina Koch (USA), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter: @Astro_Christina
Instagram: astro_christina
Facebook: AstroChristina
Drew performed the U-14 and U-2 interactions on-orbit
Andrew Morgan (USA), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter: @AstroDrewMorgan
Instagram: astrodrewmorgan
Facebook: AstroDrewMorgan
Nick performed the U-5 interactions on-orbit
Nick Hague (USA), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter: @AstroHague
Instagram: astrohague
Facebook: AstroHague
SSEP Mission 12 to ISS
Vehicle: SpaceX CRS-15
Launch: June 29, 2018, 5:42 am ET
Site: Space Launch Complex 39A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL
Payload Designation: SSEP14 – Mercury, 34 experiments
SSEP Mission 12 Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
Mission 12 Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Astronaut on ISS that operated the Mission 12 experiments:
Ricky performed all interactions on-orbit
Ricky Arnold (USA), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter: @astro_ricky
Instagram: astro_ricky
SSEP Mission 11 to ISS
Vehicle: SpaceX CRS-12
Launch: August 14, 2017, 12:31 pm ET
Site: Space Launch Complex 39A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL
Payload Designation: SSEP13 – America, 21 experiments
SSEP Mission 11 Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
Mission 11 Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Astronauts on ISS that operated the Mission 11 experiments:
Jack Fischer (USA), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter: @Astro2fish
Instagram: astro2fish
Facebook: NASA Astronaut Jack “2fish” Fischer
Peggy Whitson (USA), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter: @AstroPeggy
Facebook: NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson
Randy Bresnik(USA), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter:@AstroKomrade
Instagram: astrokomrade
Facebook: NASA Astronaut Randy “Komrade” Bresnik
Paolo Nespoli (Italy), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter: @astro_paolo
Instagram: astro_paolo
Facebook: astropaolo
SSEP Mission 10 to ISS
Vehicle: SpaceX CRS-11
Launch: June 3, 2017, 5:07 pm ET
Site: Space Launch Complex 39A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL
Payload Designation: SSEP12 – Casper, 11 experiments
SSEP Mission 10 Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
Mission 10 Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Astronauts on ISS that operated the Mission 10 experiments:
Jack Fischer (USA), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter: @Astro2fish
Instagram: astro2fish
Facebook: NASA Astronaut Jack “2fish” Fischer
Peggy Whitson (USA), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter: @AstroPeggy
Facebook: NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson
SSEP Mission 9 to ISS
Vehicle: SpaceX CRS-10
Launch: February 19, 2017, 9:38am ET
Site: Space Launch Complex 39A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL
Payload Designation: SSEP11 – Endeavor, 21 experiments
SSEP Mission 9 Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
Mission 9 Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Astronaut on ISS that operated the Mission 9 experiments:
Shane Kimbrough (USA), Station Commander [biography]
Twitter: @astro_kimbrough
Instagram: astro_kimbrough
SSEP Mission 8 to ISS
Vehicle: SpaceX CRS-9
Launch: July 18, 2016, 12:45am ET
Site: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL
Payload Designation: SSEP10 – Kitty Hawk, 15 experiments
SSEP Mission 8 Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
Mission 8 Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Astronaut on ISS that operated the Mission 8 experiments:
Jeff Williams (USA), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter:@Astro_Jeff
Instagram: astro_jeffw
Facebook: NASA Astronaut Jeff Williams
SSEP Mission 7 to ISS
Vehicle: SpaceX CRS-8
Launch: April 8, 2016, 4:43 pm ET
Site: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL
Payload Designation: SSEP9 – Odyssey II, 23 experiments
SSEP Mission 7 Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
Mission 7 Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Astronauts on ISS that operated the Mission 7 experiments:
Tim Peake (ESA), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter: @astro_timpeake
Instagram: astro_timpeake
Facebook: ESATimPeake
Jeff Williams (USA), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter:@Astro_Jeff
Instagram: astro_jeffw
Facebook: NASA Astronaut Jeff Williams
SSEP Mission 6 to ISS
Vehicle: SpaceX CRS-5
Launch: January 10, 2015, 4:30am ET
Site: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL
Payload Designation: SSEP8b – Yankee Clipper II, 17 experiments
SSEP Mission 6 Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
Mission 6 Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Astronaut on ISS that operated the Mission 6 experiments:
Barry Wilmore (USA), Station Commander [biography]
SSEP Mission 5 to ISS
Vehicle: Orbital Sciences Orb-2
Launch: July 13, 2014, 12:52 pm ET
Site: Launch Pad O-A, Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, Wallops Island, VA
Payload Designation: SSEP7 – Charlie Brown, 15 experiments
SSEP Mission 5 Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
Mission 5 Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Astronauts on ISS that operated the Mission 5 experiments:
Alexander Gerst (ESA), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter:@Astro_Alex
Instagram: astro_alex_esa
Facebook: ESAAlexGerst
Barry Wilmore (USA), Flight Engineer [biography]
SSEP Mission 3B and Mission 4 to ISS
Vehicle: Orbital Sciences Orb-1
Launch: January 9, 2014, 1:07 pm ET
Site: Launch Pad O-A, Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, Wallops Island, VA
Payload Designation: SSEP5b – Falcon II, 12 experiments and SSEP6 – Orion, 11 experiments
SSEP Missions 3b and 4 Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
Missions 3b and 4 Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Astronauts on ISS that operated the Mission 3b and Mission 4 experiments:
Michael Hopkins (USA), Flight Engineer [biography]
Koichi Wakata (Japan), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter: @Astro_Wakata
SSEP Mission 3A to ISS
Vehicle: Orbital Sciences D-1
Launch: September 18, 2013, 10:58 am ET
Site: Launch Pad O-A, Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, Wallops Island, VA
Payload Designation: SSEP5 – Falcon I, 5 experiments
SSEP Mission 3a Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
Mission 3a Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Astronauts on ISS that operated the Mission 3a experiments:
Karen L. Nyberg (USA), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter: @AstroKarenN
Instagram: astrokarenn
Facebook: AstronautKarenNyberg
Luca Parmitano (ESA–Italy), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter: @Astro_Luca
Facebook: AstronautLucaParmitano
SSEP Mission 2 to ISS
Vehicle: SpaceX CRS-1
Launch: October 7, 2012, 8:35 pm ET
Site: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL
Payload Designation: SSEP4 – Antares, 11 experiments
SSEP Mission 2 Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
Mission 2 Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Astronaut on ISS that operated the Mission 2 experiments:
Sunita Williams (USA), Station Commander [biography]
Twitter: @Astro_Suni
Facebook: AstronautSunitaWilliams
Sunita Williams interacting with a SSEP experiment while on the International Space Station
SSEP Mission 1 to ISS
Vehicle: SpaceX Dragon demonstration flight (COTS2)
Launch: May 22, 2012, 3:44 am ET
Site: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL
Payload Designation: SSEP3 – Aquarius, 15 experiments
SSEP Mission 1 Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
Mission 1 Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Astronaut on ISS that operated the Mission 1 experiments:
Don Pettit (USA), Flight Engineer [biography]
Twitter: @astro_Pettit
Facebook: Astro.Pettit
SSEP on STS-135
Vehicle: Space Shuttle Atlantis (final flight of the U.S. Space Shuttle Program)
Launch: July 8, 2011, 11:29 am ET
Site: Space Launch Complex 39A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL
Payload Designation: SSEP2 – Intrepid, 11 experiments
SSEP on STS-135 Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
STS-135 Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Astronauts on this Mission:
Christopher Ferguson (USA), Commander [biography]
Twitter: @Astro_Ferg
Douglas Hurley (USA), Pilot [biography]
Twitter: @Astro_Doug
Sandra Magnus (USA), Mission Specialist 1 [biography]
Twitter: @Astro_Sandy
Rex Walheim (USA), Mission Specialist 2 [biography]
Twitter: @Astro_Rex
SSEP on STS-134
Vehicle: Space Shuttle Endeavour (final flight of Endeavour)
Launch: May 16, 2011, 8:56 am ET
Site: Space Launch Complex 39A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL
Payload Designation: SSEP1 – Eagle, 16 experiments
SSEP on STS-134 Information: Flight Profile, Media Coverage, Press Kit
STS-134 Participation: Participating Communities, Flight Mission Patches, Conference Presentations
Astronaut who operated the SSEP experiments on this Mission:
Greg Chamitoff (USA), Mission Specialist 4 [biography]
Twitter: @Astro_Taz