SpaceX Dragon headed back to Earth

Mark Ross
By Mark Ross
March 19, 2017Science & Tech
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The Spacex Dragon spacecraft is headed home from its resupply mission to the International Space Station.

The Dragon departed ISS at four in the morning Eastern time and is expected to splash down in the Pacific off the Baja, California coast about five hours later.

NASA says the Dragon is bringing back some 5400 pounds of gear and samples for scientific analysis.

The SpaceX Dragon is a reusable vessel capable of carrying a 6600 pounds (3000 kg) payload. It is the first private spacecraft to successfully visit the ISS and return. It is launched on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 two-stage rocket.

It completed its first mission in 2012.

SpaceX expects to start using the craft for manned missions in 2018.

(REUTERS)

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