Space X info

The Write Stuff

Dance between Dragon and Space Station underway, with light flashing
SpaceX, NASA run links, checks of GPS units aboard Dragon and space station
SpaceX completes second engine burn sending Dragon on final approach to ISS
SpaceX completes first engine firing to approach space station
SpaceX Dragon approaching the International Space Station
Dance between Dragon and Space Station underway, with light flashing
Posted: 24 May 2012 04:12 AM PDT
The world’s first private spacecraft, now approaching the International Space Station has completed its first couple of tests to see if it can deliver the goods.

SpaceX, NASA and astronauts aboard the space station linked the GPS systems onboard the Dragon capsule and the international laboratory, demonstrating that they can precisely calibrate the two orbiting vessels movements.

Then Russian Flight Engineer Andre Kuipers pushed a button on a little black box sent aboard the space station by SpaceX, and a strobe light began flashing on the Dragon, still a few miles behind. Minutes later, cameras caught the approaching spaceship, capturing the historic first pass of the world’s first private spaceship to travel to the space station.

The rendezvous began at 4:43 a.m. when Dragon, built and operated by SpaceX, fired its engines for the second time this morning, starting its final approach, drifting within view of astronauts aboard the space station.






SpaceX, NASA run links, checks of GPS units aboard Dragon and space station
Posted: 24 May 2012 02:42 AM PDT
The world’s first private spacecraft, now approaching the International Space Station has begun its first major test to see if it can deliver the goods.

SpaceX, NASA and astronauts aboard the space station linked the GPS systems onboard the Dragon capsule and the international laboratory, demonstrating that they can precisely calibrate the two orbiting vessels movements.

At 4:43 a.m. Dragon, built and operated by SpaceX, fired its engines for the second time this morning, starting its final approach, drifting within view of astronauts aboard the space station.
Though the capsule will get no closer than 1.5 miles from the station, that visit will make history, giving NASA and the Hawthorne, Calif., based rocket company the chance to see if a private spacecraft can be maneuvered around the station.

This first engine burn sends the Dragon upward to a position about 30 miles behind the space station and about 1.5 miles lower. The second SpaceX has fired the engines again, sending it on a parallel trajectory to catch the station, directly beneath it.






SpaceX completes second engine burn sending Dragon on final approach to ISS
Posted: 24 May 2012 01:44 AM PDT
The world’s first private spacecraft is now approaching the International Space Station.

At 4:43 a.m. Dragon, built and operated by SpaceX, fired its engines for the second time this morning, starting its final approach. Over the next hour or so the spacecraft will pass by the station.
Though the capsule will get no closer than 1.6 miles from the station, that visit will make history, giving NASA and the Hawthorne, Calif., based rocket company the chance to see if a private spacecraft can be maneuvered around the station.

This firstengine burn sends the Dragon upward to a position about 30 miles behind the space station and about 1.6 miles lower. Now SpaceX has fired the engines again, sending it on a parallel trajectory to catch the station, directly beneath it.






SpaceX completes first engine firing to approach space station
Posted: 24 May 2012 01:02 AM PDT
The world’s first private spacecraft began its approach to the International Space Station.

At 3:58 a.m. Dragon, built and operated by SpaceX, fired its engines to start making its approach. Though the capsule will get no closer than 1.5 miles from the station, that visit will make history, giving NASA and the Hawthorne, Calif., based rocket company the chance to see if a private spacecraft can be maneuvered around the station.

This maneuver will bring the Dragon to within 30 miles behind the space station and about 1.5 miles below it. The Dragon engines will be fired again at 4:43 a.m. that will allow it to catch the station, passing just below it. At that point, NASA and the ISS astronauts will make various remote control commands of the spacecraft.






SpaceX Dragon approaching the International Space Station
Posted: 24 May 2012 12:33 AM PDT
NASA has given the SpaceX permission to start maneuvering its privately-operated Dragon space capsule toward the International Space Station.

The command came as the SpaceX-run Dragon was about 62 miles behind the station, as both were circling the Earth at 17,000 mph

At 3:58 a.m. Dragon will burn its engines to start making its approach. Though the capsule will get no closer than 1.5 miles from the station, that visit will make history, giving NASA and the Hawthorne, Calif., based rocket company the chance to see if a private spacecraft can be maneuvered around the station.

The maneuvers, and a chance for astronauts to use remote control to turn on a light on Dragon, will occur later this morning.

At 3:17 a.m. NASA’s flight director Holly Ridings polled controllers at Johnson Space Center and gave a “go” to SpaceX controllers in California to begin the burn.

If this morning’s tests work, then tomorrow Dragon will re-approach the station and actually berth with it. The capsule will fly within 30 feet. Space station astronauts will operate a grappling arm to grab it and bring it up to the station’s docking hatch, and lock it in place. Then Saturday morning, the astronauts will open the hatches and retrieve about a half ton of supplies on board the spaceship.

That will begin the new era for NASA, in which private companies like SpaceX bring goods – and one day astronauts – to the station and other lower-Earth orbit missions.






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