SpaceX’s Dragon cargo spacecraft successfully attaches to the ISS

[EC]

SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which launched on Sunday and is filled with 5,500 pounds of supplies and experiment materials for the crew of the International Space Station has successfully docked. The Dragon craft had missed its first attempt at meeting up with the station, due to a GPS error.

It’s the first time since 2012 that SpaceX has had to abort an attempt to dock one of its supply ships with the ISS, but the second try on Thursday morning seems to have proceeded without any issues. The Dragon craft was captured by the ISS’s robotic arm, which then brought the capsule and its large cargo attachment in to dock with the station itself.

The capsule’s equipment will be transferred over the course of the Dragon’s one month stay at the ISS, after which it’ll make the return trip to Earth with a planned splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/23/spacexs-dragon-cargo-spacecraft-successfully-attaches-to-the-iss/

[geronl]

awsome

@kevindavis

[geronl]

could this capsule be used by the astronauts in an emergency?

[geronl]

and within a day the Russian Progress 66 will arrive!

[thackney]

could this capsule be used by the astronauts in an emergency?

Dragon is a free-flying spacecraft designed to deliver both cargo and people to orbiting destinations. Dragon made history in 2012 when it became the first commercial spacecraft in history to deliver cargo to the International Space Station and safely return cargo to Earth, a feat previously achieved only by governments. It is the only spacecraft currently flying that is capable of returning significant amounts of cargo to Earth. Currently Dragon carries cargo to space, but it was designed from the beginning to carry humans. Under an agreement with NASA, SpaceX is now developing the refinements that will enable Dragon to fly crew. Dragon's first manned test flight is expected to take place as early as 2018.

http://www.spacex.com/dragon

Crew Dragon features an advanced emergency escape system (which was tested in the spring of 2015) to swiftly carry astronauts to safety if something were to go wrong, experiencing about the same G-forces as a ride at Disneyland....

Crew Dragon has an Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) that provides a comfortable and safe environment for crew members. During their trip, astronauts on board can set the spacecraft’s interior temperature to between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit....

http://www.spacex.com/crew-dragon