Dragon Docks Successfully With International Space Station
By Ed Pierce // October 10, 2012
First-Ever Commercial Resupply Mission
BREVARD COUNTY • KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLORIDA – The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft has accomplished its historic mission of bringing the first-ever commercial cargo resupply to the International Space Station.
The Dragon capsule was securely bolted to the Harmony module of the ISS at 9:03 a.m. today after performing a series of intricate maneuvers prior to docking and capture by the robotic arm of the space station.
Astronauts aboard the ISS will open the Dragon’s hatch tomorrow and start unloading equipment and supplies.
The Dragon was captured at 6:56 a.m. Wednesday by the ISS’s robotic arm.
“Looks like we’ve tamed the Dragon,” said NASA astronaut Sunita Williams aboard the station. “We’re happy she’s on board with us.”
The Dragon was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station using a Falcon 9 rocket Sunday night and will stay docked with the ISS for the next 18 days as the first of 12 planned resupply missions under a $1.6 million agreement between SpaceX and NASA.
Once all the 1,000 pounds of incoming cargo is unloaded, astronauts will then begin the process of storing used equipment, laundry and completed scientific experiments back on Dragon for a return flight home.
The Dragon will undock from the ISS on Oct. 28 for a splash down in the Pacific Ocean 250 miles from the coast of Baja California.
