NASA/SpaceX Step on the Gas, Dragon Berths Ahead of Revised Schedule

Dragon on Approach
Credit : NASA

After a delayed start to rendezvous operations, NASA and SpaceX made up a little lost time on Dragon’s CRS-2 delivery mission to ISS.  With Draco thruster burns beginning late yesterday evening to reach the station, NASA managers began proximity operations and captured Dragon nearly an hour ahead of schedule. For those who have followed each of three mission to station so far, the published schedules are estimates only. Once operations begin, the process generally goes more quickly than expected.

SpaceX Statement on Berthing:

SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft was berthed to the International Space Station at approximately 8:56 a.m. EST Sunday, installed onto the Earth-facing port of the Harmony module. Dragon arrived to station with over 2,300 pounds of cargo and packaging to ensure safe travel, and during the next 22 days, astronauts will unload and then load cargo, including materials to support critical science experiments. Dragon will return to Earth with over 3,000 pounds of cargo, and has a targeted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja, Calif. on March 25. Dragon is the only spacecraft in the world today capable of returning significant amounts of cargo to Earth.

“SpaceX is proud to execute this important work for NASA, and we’re thrilled to bring this capability back to the United States,” said Gwynne Shotwell, President of SpaceX. “Today’s launch continues SpaceX’s long-term partnership with NASA to provide reliable, safe transport of cargo to and from the station, enabling beneficial research and advancements in technology and research.”

NASA CRS Updates During the Process:

The International Space Station Expedition 34 crew successfully captured the SpaceX Dragon capsule with the station’s robotic arm at 5:31 a.m. EST. Dragon is scheduled to be berthed to space station at approximately 9:40 am EST.

Following its capture by Expedition 34 crew members Kevin Ford and Tom Marshburn of NASA, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is being maneuvered by ground controllers at the end of the International Space Station’s robotic arm for installation onto the Earth-facing port of the Harmony module

The SpaceX Dragon capsule was berthed to the Harmony module of the International Space Station at 8:56 a.m. EST. The hatch between the newly arrived spacecraft and the Harmony module of the space station is scheduled to be opened tomorrow. The capsule is scheduled to spend 22 days attached to the station. For an overview of newly delivered science investigations aboard Dragon, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/research_rides_dragon.html