The SpaceX capsule reached the International Space Station (ISS) on Saturday, July 27, with 5,000 lbs worth of cargo. The spacecraft’s approach and docking were photographed by NASA’s three astronauts currently onboard the ISS. Astronaut Nick Hague even managed to snap an out-of-this-world selfie with crewmates Christina Hague and Andrew Morgan from the ISS’ Cupola viewing module. SpaceX’s Dragon capsule blasted off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Thursday, July 27.
The capsule was carried into space by one of SpaceX’s signature Falcon 9 booster rockets and was later manually intercepted by NASA’s astronauts.
Ms Koch, who shared the amazing photos of the Dragon online, was responsible for grabbing the spacecraft with a robotic arm.
She tweeted: “Today my crewmate @AstroHague and I captured the @SpaceX #Dragon, filled with over 5,000 pounds of science and supplies.
“Still celebrating Apollo anniversaries on @Space_Station with the #Apollo50th emblem on the Dragon vehicle. Can you spot it?”
The SpaceX Dragon launch marked the 18th ISS resupply mission carried out by the California-based rocket manufacturer for NASA.
Experiments will be exploring microgravity’s effect on a variety of biological and physical processes
NASA
The Dragon is now docked to the ISS’ Harmony module, where it will remain for a whole month.
The spacecraft carried vital cargo for the orbital laboratory’s crew but also contained tools and experiments for the astronauts to carry out.
NASA said: “NASA flight engineer Nick Hague Dragon’s hatch early Sunday beginning a month of cargo operations.
“His fellow cremates Christina Koch and Andrew Morgan are unloading critical research samples and storing them inside the station’s science freezers and incubators for analysis.
“The new experiments will be exploring microgravity’s effect on a variety of biological and physical processes benefitting humans on Earth and in space.”
“The crew will be researching 3-D bio-printing, silica manufacturing, botany and tissue regeneration and a host of other space phenomena.”
SpaceX’s capsule also delivered a new docking adapter, which will be removed and installed in mid-August.
The docking port will be installed during a spacewalk later next month.
Mr Hague, also took to Twitter to share some breathtaking photos of the SpaceX Dragon.
The astronaut snapped pictures of the spacecraft against the deep blue of Earth and the pitch black of space.
He tweeted: “It was a great day to capture a #Dragon. @Astro_Christina and I captured the visiting vehicle using @Space_Station’s robotic Canadarm2.”
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