The Briefing Room

General Category => Science, Technology and Knowledge => Space => Topic started by: Elderberry on August 31, 2021, 12:55:35 am

Title: SpaceX's Dragon cargo ship docks at space station in time for astronaut's birthday
Post by: Elderberry on August 31, 2021, 12:55:35 am
Space.com by Mike Wall 8/30/2021

"No one's ever sent me a spaceship for my birthday before."

SpaceX's latest Dragon cargo ship arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) today (Aug. 30) to deliver an experimental robotic arm and a wealth of other research equipment and supplies just in time for one astronaut's birthday.

"Congratulations to NASA and SpaceX teams and many thanks. No one's ever sent me a spaceship for my birthday before," NASA astronaut Megan McArthur radioed Mission Control just after docking. It's her 50th birthday today.

"That's a most excellent birthday present," NASA's Mission Control in Houston replied.

The gumdrop-shaped Dragon docked with the station's Harmony module at 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT) today, ending a 32-hour-orbital chase. The station and Dragon were sailing 264 miles (425 kilometers) above western Australia at the time.

More: https://www.space.com/spacex-dragon-docks-space-station-crs-23 (https://www.space.com/spacex-dragon-docks-space-station-crs-23)