The SpaceX Dragon cargo craft was successfully installed at the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday (February 23) a day after SpaceX had to abort an attempt to tether to the ISS due to a navigation problem caused by an incorrect data point being entered in the capsule’s computer.
The cargo craft was bolted into place at 0812est/1312gmt on the earth-facing port of the Harmony module where it will stay for the next month.
Dragon is carrying more than 5,000 pounds (2268 kg) supplies and payloads, including critical materials to support dozens of science and research investigations that are planned to occur during Expeditions 50 and 51, according to a release from SpaceX.
A Dragon docking on Thursday means the station’s six-member crew will be juggling the arrival of two cargo ships within 24 hours. A Russian Progress capsule is enroute to the Space Station and is due to reach the orbiting outpost early Friday morning.
SpaceX is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company founded by Tesla CEO and former PayPal entrepreneur Elon Musk
Musk hopes to use SpaceX to reduce space transportation costs and enable the colonization of Mars.
The ISS is a habitable artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. It is the ninth space station to be inhabited by crews. The station has been continuously occupied for 16 years and 113 days.
The ISS program is a joint project between five space agencies representing various countries.
The ownership and use of the space station is established by intergovernmental treaties and agreements.
(REUTERS)
