SpaceX Dragon capsule docking with Internation Space Station (11.05am Sunday)

[Itsallaguess]

Anyone who's been following the recent SpaceX Falcon 9 launch will be able to see the Dragon Capsule dock with the ISS (International Space Station) this morning around 11.05am UK time on the live NASA TV stream linked below -

https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/#public

Schedule of today's events here (add 5 hours to EST times to get UK time) - https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/schedule.html

Note that following the docking procedure at 11.05 UK time, the capsule hatch will be opened around 1.30pm UK time.

Some info here from a BBC article on the whole mission -

The demonstration flight of America’s new astronaut capsule will see it attempt to dock with the International Space Station (ISS).

The Dragon vehicle, launched by California’s SpaceX company on Saturday, is designed to make the attachment autonomously.

It is the latest in a series of tests the capsule must pass in order to get approval from Nasa to transport people.

All this particular mission is carrying is a test dummy and 90kg of supplies.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-47430432

The test dummy is called Ripley, after the female character in the Alien film franchise.

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

[UncleEbenezer]

Heh. That Ripley reference goes straight over my head. I heard it ont'wireless and just thought of the talented Mr Ripley.

[stevensfo]

Wow! Watching live now. Just docked now, hatch opening.


By the way, what's that large egg-shaped thing they just brought into the space station? They don't seem to know what it is.

No doubt someone will look into it later....


Steve

[redsturgeon]

Heh. That Ripley reference goes straight over my head. I heard it ont'wireless and just thought of the talented Mr Ripley.

That reference was totally Alien to me too...


John

[swill453]

Heh. That Ripley reference goes straight over my head. I heard it ont'wireless and just thought of the talented Mr Ripley.

That reference was totally Alien to me too...

Alien is forty years old this year!

Scott.

[stevensfo]

Splashdown back on earth in the next hour!

Steve

[ReformedCharacter]

Well, that all went well. I was a bit concerned about the parachutes though and the capsule did appear to be rotating towards the end of its descent but perhaps that's all as expected. I wonder that if the parachutes should fail that slowing by use of the thrusters is an option as AFAIK a thruster controlled descent was part of the original landing plan.

RC

[brightncheerful]

All this particular mission is carrying is a test dummy and 90kg of supplies.

Stockpiling for Brexit?