Cancel

gear Push settings

bars

homehome Home chatchat Notifications


SpaceX reaches International Space Station safely with precious cargo

Following what seemed to be a serious problem with one of the engines from the Falcon 9 rocket, the unmanned but highly equipped Dragon capsule successfully latched itself to the International Space Station (ISS). The capsule was capture by astronauts using a robotic arm after what seemed to be a flawless approach – which is […]

Mihai Andrei
October 10, 2012 @ 7:28 am

share Share

Following what seemed to be a serious problem with one of the engines from the Falcon 9 rocket, the unmanned but highly equipped Dragon capsule successfully latched itself to the International Space Station (ISS). The capsule was capture by astronauts using a robotic arm after what seemed to be a flawless approach – which is really good news, considering that this is only the first in a series of 12 planned missions, which will cost NASA about $1.6 billion.

 

“Looks like we’ve tamed the Dragon,” station commander Sunita Williams said as the spacecraft was captured by a robotic arm. “We’re happy she’s onboard with us. Thanks to everyone at SpaceX and NASA for bringing her to us … and the ice cream.”

In the almost 500 kg cargo, astronauts also got a rare, last-minute delight: chocolate-vanilla swirl ice cream. The ISS crew was of course really thrilled to see the ship (not only because of the ice cream).

“It’s nice to see Dragon flying over the U.S.,” Williams said during the space rendezvous.

Source: NASA

share Share

NASA’s Curiosity Rover Spotted Driving Across Mars From Space for the First Time

An orbiter captured Curiosity mid-drive on the Red Planet.

Japan Plans to Beam Solar Power from Space to Earth

The Sun never sets in space — and Japan has found a way to harness this unlimited energy.

Giant Planet Was Just Caught Falling Into Its Star and It Changes What We Thought About Planetary Death

A rare cosmic crime reveals a planet’s slow-motion death spiral into its star.

This Planet Is So Close to Its Star It Is Literally Falling Apart, Leaving a Comet-like Tail of Dust in Space

This dying planet sheds a “Mount Everest” of rock each day.

We Could One Day Power a Galactic Civilization with Spinning Black Holes

Could future civilizations plug into the spin of space-time itself?

Elon Musk could soon sell missile defense to the Pentagon like a Netflix subscription

In January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring missile attacks the gravest threat to America. It was the official greenlight for one of the most ambitious military undertakings in recent history: the so-called “Golden Dome.” Now, just months later, Elon Musk’s SpaceX and two of its tech allies—Palantir and Anduril—have emerged as leading […]

Have scientists really found signs of alien life on K2-18b?

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. We're not quite there.

How a suitcase-sized NASA device could map shrinking aquifers from space

Next‑gen gravity maps could help track groundwater, ice loss, and magma.

Astronomers Say They Finally Found Half the Universe’s Matter. It was Missing In Plain Sight

It was beginning to get embarassing but vast clouds of hydrogen may finally resolve a cosmic mystery.

Trump’s Budget Plan Is Eviscerating NASA and NOAA Science

Science is under attack.