Tuesday, September 23, 2014

SpaceX Dragon cargo ship docks with ISS

An unmanned SpaceX Dragon cargo ship is seen grappled by a robotic arm on the International Space Station on Sept. 22, 2014. 

The commercial spacecraft is SpaceX's fourth delivery mission to the space station and is carrying 20 live mice and the world's first 3D printer in space among its haul.

Credit: NASA TV

A private Dragon cargo ship built by SpaceX arrived at the International Space Station today (Sept. 23) to deliver more than 2 tons of astronaut supplies and experiments for NASA, including the first 3D printer in space and an intrepid crew of 20 lab mice.

After a two-day chase, the Dragon spacecraft caught up to the orbiting laboratory at 6:52 a.m. EDT (1052GMT).

European astronaut Alexander Gerst used the space station's huge robotic arm to grab the capsule with help from NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman.

The spacecraft is packed with 5,000 lbs. (2,268 kilograms) of experiments and supplies.

"This was a great flight of Dragon toward the space station," Gerst radioed Mission Control after capturing the Dragon capsule with the robotic arm.

No comments:

Post a Comment