Dragon makes Easter delivery for space station

Space station astronauts have received a special Easter treat – a cargo ship full of supplies.

Dragon makes Easter delivery for space station

Space station astronauts have received a special Easter treat – a cargo ship full of supplies.

The shipment arrived via the SpaceX company’s Dragon cargo capsule.

“Gentlemen, the Easter Dragon is knocking at the door,” Nasa’s Mission Control said as the capsule was bolted into place.

The Dragon spent two days chasing the International Space Station following its launch on Friday from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Astronauts used a robot arm to capture the capsule 260 miles (418 kilometres) above Egypt.

More than two 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.

The SpaceX delivery was not 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, California, exchanged high-five hand slaps, 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, Mr 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.

Nasa is paying SpaceX as well as Virginia’s Orbital Sciences to regularly stock the orbiting lab.

These commercial shipments stemmed from the 2011 retirement of the space shuttle fleet. This was the fourth station delivery for SpaceX.

Russia, Japan and Europe also make occasional deliveries.

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Russia wears down Ukrainian defences with missile and drone attacks Russia wears down Ukrainian defences with missile and drone attacks
Paramedics among 16 people killed by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon Paramedics among 16 people killed by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon
French legislators ponder law to ban discrimination based on a person’s hair French legislators ponder law to ban discrimination based on a person’s hair
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited