Spectacular launch sends cargo ship on voyage to space station

What happened: A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched an unpiloted Dragon cargo ship Tuesday, bound to dock with the International Space Station Thursday with supplies, science gear and two roll-out solar arrays. Key numbers: More than 6,300 pounds of cargo, including 844 pounds of crew supplies, 1,307 pounds of science gear, 417 pounds of spacewalk equipment and 880 pounds of hardware. Why it matters: The seventh and eighth IROSA arrays are the final sets in an upgrade meant to restore the station's power output to original levels, offsetting age-related degradation of the original eight solar wings.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched an unpiloted Dragon cargo ship Tuesday, bound to dock with the International Space Station Thursday with supplies, science gear and two roll-out solar arrays.

The seventh and eighth IROSA arrays are the final sets in an upgrade meant to restore the station's power output to original levels, offsetting age-related degradation of the original eight solar wings.