SpaceX - CRS-9 Dragon Mission patch.
July 20, 2016
Dragon Arrives and Captured by Robotic Arm
Image above: The SpaceX Dragon is captured in the grips of the Canadarm2 robotic arm. Image Credit: NASA TV.
SpaceX/Dragon Arrives at the Space Station
While the International Space Station was traveling 252 statute miles over the Great Lakes, NASA’s Expedition 48 Commander Jeff Williams and NASA Flight Engineer Kate Rubins used the station’s 57.7-foot (17.6-meter) robotic arm to reach out and capture the Dragon spacecraft at 6:56 a.m. EDT.
Dragon Attached to Station’s Harmony Module
Image above: The SpaceX Dragon is seen attached to the International Space Station’s Harmony module just before orbital sunrise. Image Credit: NASA TV.
The SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft was bolted into place on the Harmony module of the International Space Station at 10:03 a.m. EDT as the station flew about 252 statute miles over the California and Oregon border.
The spacecraft is delivering nearly 5,000 pounds of science, hardware and supplies, including instruments to perform the first-ever DNA sequencing in space, and the first of two identical international docking adapters (IDA). The IDAs will provide a means for commercial spacecraft to dock to the station in the near future as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
Dragon is scheduled to depart the space station Aug. 29 when it will return critical science research back to Earth. It is the second cargo spacecraft to arrive on station this week. On Monday, July 18, a Russian ISS Progress 64 cargo craft docked to the Pirs docking compartment of the space station at 8:22 p.m., where it will remain for about six months.
Hatches Between Dragon and the Station are Open
SpaceX Dragon Attached to the Space Station
The hatches between Dragon and station were opened at 2:27 p.m. EDT Wednesday, July 20. The crew entered to document the interior and will begin unloading cargo this afternoon.
The spacecraft delivered nearly 5,000 pounds of science, hardware and supplies, including instruments to perform the first-ever DNA sequencing in space, and the first of two identical international docking adapters (IDA). The IDAs will provide a means for commercial spacecraft to dock to the station in the near future as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
For more information about the International Space Station (ISS), visit: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html
Learn more about SpaceX's resupply mission at: http://www.nasa.gov/spacex
Images (mentioned), Videos, Text, Credits: NASA/NASA TV/Mark Garcia.
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