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SpaceX: What's onboard the Cargo Dragon capsule?

falcon-9-rocket.Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket has been used to help transport items to the ISS before

Aerospace company SpaceX, which is owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has launched another rocket which is currently heading to the International Space Station (ISS), and there are some very interesting items on board!

A recycled Falcon 9 spacecraft blasted into the sky from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Sunday carrying SpaceX's Cargo Dragon capsule. The flight was originally scheduled for Saturday, but plans were changed due to poor weather conditions.

The capsule contains the latest delivery of goods bound for the ISS including a new robotic arm but also fresh food items like lemons, avocados, onions, cherry tomatoes and one very special treat for the astronauts - ice cream!

Happy birthday!

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

This trip is Megan's second time in space and she'll be on the ISS for six months

There are some pretty interesting items being transported to space.

One space station astronaut is celebrating her 50th birthday with an ice cream and other treats brought by a supply ship.

Overseeing the automated docking was Nasa astronaut Megan McArthur: "No one's ever sent me a spaceship for my birthday before. "

"I appreciate it," she radioed after the capsule arrived.

Media caption,

What is the International Space Station?

The rocket container is filled with more than 4,800 pounds of supplies, scientific experiments and hardware that will help the astronauts on board the ISS perform lots of different research experiments.

The cargo will also be used to help the astronauts restock the station.

The robotic arm will being tested to see if it can carry out ordinary tasks normally done by astronauts like pushing buttons, flipping switches and screwing items together.

What items would you send into space? What do you think would be useful or cool for the astronauts to have? Let us know in the comments below.