SpaceX Dragon Makes Easter Delivery at International Space Station

[Buster's Uncle]

SpaceX supply capsule berths at ISS
AFP
9 hours ago



This April 20, 2014 image from NASA TV shows the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft berthed to the Earth-facing port of the International Space Station's Harmony node (AFP Photo/)



Washington (AFP) - The unmanned Dragon capsule from the private US firm SpaceX successfully berthed at the International Space Station Sunday on its third trip carrying supplies and equipment to the orbiting lab.

NASA television broadcast live images of the crew inside the ISS as the capsule was installed on the Earth-facing port of the Harmony module, a US-built utility hub, at 1406 GMT.

It said the capsule, which berthed with the help of a long robotic arm, took place 260 miles (418 kilometers) above Brazil.

Hours earlier, the 17.6-meter (57.7-foot) arm reached out and captured the gumdrop-shaped capsule from space at 1114 GMT.

"Capture complete, congratulations to the entire team," said the Japanese station commander, Koichi Wakata, who was in charge of operating the mechanical arm along with American Rick Mastracchio.

"We're excited," a smiling Wakata added.

Astronauts were dressed casually in polo shirts as they carried out the Easter Sunday procedure, whose next steps include pressurizing the vessel between the capsule and ISS.



Space X's Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral, Florida on April 18, 2014 carrying its Dragon CRS3 spacecraft on a resupply mission to the International Space Station (AFP Photo/Bruce Weaver)


Once this is completed, the capsule's goodies, including food, new space suits, components to replace those aboard the ISS and equipment for 150 scientific experiments, can be unloaded.

NASA said it expects the hatch will be opened in what will be early Monday morning in the United States.

SpaceX has a $1.6 billion contract with NASA for a series of future supply missions.

This marks the California-based company's third commercial resupply mission and fourth visit to the ISS.

After three delays, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off with the Dragon capsule from Cape Canaveral in Florida on Friday afternoon.

The mission had originally been scheduled for mid-March but did not go ahead because of technical issues.

The Dragon capsule is due to deliver 2.2 tonnes of cargo, including the equipment for 150 scientific experiments.

One of the experiments will be the Vegetable Production System, or Veggie, which would allow the production of salad-type crops to safely feed the astronauts.

Another experiment seeks to determine why an astronaut's immune system weakens in microgravity.

NASA is also sending an experiment system that can more rapidly transmit data using a laser communication system, in a first from space.

In all, SpaceX is due to complete 12 missions for the US space agency.

SpaceX became the first commercial entity to reach the space station with its Dragon cargo ship in May 2012 in a trial run. Owned by Internet entrepreneur Elon Musk, the company's first cargo mission took place in October that year.

The last mission involving a Dragon capsule was completed in March 2013.


http://news.yahoo.com/spacex-supply-capsule-berths-iss-164302154.html

[Buster's Uncle]

SpaceX Dragon Makes Easter Delivery at International Space Station
SPACE.com
by Tariq Malik, Managing Editor  13 hours ago



A SpaceX Dragon space capsule floats serenely in orbit near the International Space Station with the Earth as a dazzling backdrop in this view from the station on April 20, 2014



It's not exactly the Easter bunny, but a commercial Dragon cargo ship built by SpaceX made an Easter delivery to the International Space Station Sunday (April 20) to deliver tons supplies, and possibly even some treats, for the astronauts on board.

The robotic Dragon spacecraft arrived at space station Sunday morning, floating within reach of the orbiting laboratory's robotic arm. Station astronauts used the arm to capture the Dragon spacecraft as both spacecraft sailed 260 miles (418 kilometers) above Egypt and the Nile River.

"Great work catching the Dragon," NASA astronaut Jack Fischer radioed the station crew Mission Control in Houston. The station crew then carefully attached the Dragon cargo ship to a docking port on the station, completing the job in just under three hours.

The Hawthorne, Calif.-based SpaceX launched the Dragon cargo ship toward the space station on Friday (April 18) using its own Falcon 9 rocket that lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The mission is SpaceX's fourth Dragon flight to the space station and third of 12 cargo delivery missions under a $1.6 billion deal with NASA.



A SpaceX Dragon cargo ship is captured by astronauts using the robotic arm on the International Space Station in this close-up camera view from the outpost on April 20, 2014. The Dragon capsule delivered nearly 5,000 lbs. of supplies


The Dragon spacecraft is carrying 5,000 lbs. (2,268 kilograms) of food, supplies and gear for 150 different experiments. A miniature lettuce farm, space robot legs and laser communications system are among the delivery's highlights.

Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administrator for human exploration and operations, said Friday that he wasn't sure if those supplies included any chocolate eggs, jelly beans or other Easter goodies for the station crew.

"It'll be a surprise for all of us when they open the hatch," Gerstenmaier said. That hatch opening is slated to occur on Monday.

SpaceX's latest Dragon cargo ship was captured by space station commander Koichi Wakata, of Japan, and NASA astronaut Rick Mastracchio, who watched over the spacecraft's approach to the station from the orbiting lab's Cupola observation deck. The spacecraft will return to Earth in May to return science experiments and other gear to NASA scientists.

"Congratulations to the entire team for the successful rendezvous and capture," Wakata said. "The vehicle and spacecraft was very solid and very stable."



A SpaceX-built Dragon cargo ship floats near the end of the International Space Station's robotic arm, with the Earth as a backdrop, in this view from a station camera captured on April 20, 2014


The arrival of SpaceX's Dragon occurred nearly a month late. SpaceX initially aimed to launch the cargo ship in mid-March but delayed the flight first to allow final checks, then due to a damaged Air Force ground radar used to support Cape Canaveral rocket launches.

SpaceX is one of two companies with NASA contracts for robotic cargo missions to the space station. The other firm is Orbital Sciences Corp. in Dulles, Va., which has a $1.9 billion deal for eight delivery flights using its own Cygnus spacecraft and Antares rockets. The first official Cygnus delivery to the station launched in January.

Dragon's Easter Sunday arrival sets the stage for a spacewalk later this week on Wednesday (April 23) to replace a broken backup computer on the station's exterior. The computer, called a Multiplexer-Demultiplexer or MDM, serves as a backup for routing commands to several key systems on the station's exterior.

The backup MDM device stopped responding to commands on April 11, although the system's primary computer is still working fine. But to preserve redundancy, NASA will send Mastracchio and fellow NASA astronaut Steve Swanson outside the station on Wednesday to replace the faulty backup computer with a spare.


http://news.yahoo.com/spacex-dragon-makes-easter-delivery-international-space-station-123319281.html

[Buster's Uncle]

Easter morning delivery for space station
Associated Press
By MARCIA DUNN  10 hours ago



Space station astronauts got a special Easter treat: a cargo ship full of supplies. The SpaceX company's cargo ship, Dragon, spent two days chasing the International Space Station following its launch from Cape Canaveral. (April 20)



CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Space station astronauts got a special Easter treat: a cargo ship full of supplies.

The shipment arrived Sunday morning via a Dragon, versus a bunny.

"Gentlemen, the Easter Dragon is knocking at the door," NASA's Mission Control said as the capsule was bolted into place.

The SpaceX company's cargo ship, Dragon, spent two days chasing the International Space Station following its launch from Cape Canaveral. Astronauts used a robot arm to capture the capsule 260 miles above Egypt.

More than 2 tons of food, spacewalking gear and experiments fill the Dragon, including mating fruit flies, a little veggie hothouse and legs for the resident robot. NASA also packed family care packages for the six spacemen.

On Wednesday, the stakes will be even higher when the two Americans on board conduct a spacewalk to replace a dead computer. NASA wants a reliable backup in place as soon as possible, even though the primary computer is working fine. The backup failed April 11.



This frame grabbed image from NASA-TV Sunday April 20, 2014 shows the SpaceX Dragon resupply capsule approaching the International Space Station. It is expected to be captured by the Canadarm2, left, from the International Space Station later this morning. The pair at the time of this frame grab are traveling over the southern Atlantic Ocean. (AP Photo/NASA-TV)


The SpaceX delivery wasn't exactly express. The launch was delayed more than a month. A minor communication problem cropped up during Sunday's rendezvous, but the capture still took place on time and with success.

SpaceX flight controllers, at company headquarters in Hawthorne, Calif., exchanged high-fives, shook hands, applauded and embraced once Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata snared the Dragon with the station's hefty robot arm.

"Great work catching the Dragon," NASA's Mission Control radioed from Houston. "Thanks for getting her on board."

The capsule was solid and stable for grabbing, Wakata reported, making the job easy. He congratulated the SpaceX team and added, "We're excited."

A few hours later, the Dragon was secured to the space station. The capsule will remain attached until mid-May. It will be filled with science samples — including the flies — for return to Earth.



This frame grabbed image from NASA-TV Sunday April 20, 2014 shows the SpaceX Dragon resupply capsule captured by the Canadarm2 from the International Space Station at 7:14 a.m. EDT Sunday. (AP Photo/NASA-TV)


NASA is paying SpaceX as well as Virginia's Orbital Sciences Corp. to regularly stock the orbiting lab. These commercial shipments stemmed from the 2011 retirement of the space shuttles. This was the fourth station delivery for SpaceX.

Russia, Japan and Europe also make occasional deliveries.

___

Online:

NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html

SpaceX: http://www.spacex.com/


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