Also onboard is the ARTEMOSS experiment, which is pronounced similarly to “Artemis” in a nod to NASA’s Moon-bound program. The acronym stands for “From Antarctica to Space: Molecular Response and Physiological Adaptation of Moss to Simulated Deep Space Cosmic Ionizing Radiation and Spaceflight Microgravity.”

Shouldn't that be FATS:MRPAMSDSCIRSM?

Nestled inside the trunk of the Dragon is a device called CODEX (COronal Diagnostic EXperiment), ... the device will be unpacked and installed using the Canadarm-2 robotic arm.

I've been wondering why this mission couldn't just dock to the zenith port. Could this be why? Is there better access for the arm at the forward facing port? (For those who didn't know, Crew-9 had to relocate Dragon Freedom to the zenith port a couple of days ago, to free up the forward port for CRS-31.)

[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 1 month ago

I've been wondering why this mission couldn't just dock to the zenith port.

During the launch webcast, they mentioned that they will test boosting the ISS using Dragon's thrusters. I suspect this is the reason they want to dock at the forward port.