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SpaceX Dragon capsule docks with space station | SpaceX Dragon capsule docks with space station |
(32 minutes later) | |
America's new astronaut capsule has successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) as part of its demonstration mission. | America's new astronaut capsule has successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) as part of its demonstration mission. |
The Dragon vehicle, launched by California's SpaceX company on Saturday, made the attachment autonomously. | The Dragon vehicle, launched by California's SpaceX company on Saturday, made the attachment autonomously. |
It is the latest in a series of tests the capsule must pass in order to get approval from Nasa to transport people. | It is the latest in a series of tests the capsule must pass in order to get approval from Nasa to transport people. |
All this particular mission is carrying is a test dummy and 90kg of supplies. | All this particular mission is carrying is a test dummy and 90kg of supplies. |
But if everything goes according to plan, astronauts could be launching in the Dragon as early as July. | But if everything goes according to plan, astronauts could be launching in the Dragon as early as July. |
The capsule's "soft capture" contact with the ISS occurred at 10:51 GMT, when the station was flying over ocean just north of New Zealand. A full and secure docking was confirmed about 10 minutes later. | The capsule's "soft capture" contact with the ISS occurred at 10:51 GMT, when the station was flying over ocean just north of New Zealand. A full and secure docking was confirmed about 10 minutes later. |
The Dragon approached the 400km-high (250 miles) station from the front and used its computers and sensors to guide itself in. | The Dragon approached the 400km-high (250 miles) station from the front and used its computers and sensors to guide itself in. |
Astronauts aboard the ISS watched closely on HD cameras to make sure the capsule performed as planned. | Astronauts aboard the ISS watched closely on HD cameras to make sure the capsule performed as planned. |
The capsule advanced on the station slowly, stepping through a series of planned waypoints. | The capsule advanced on the station slowly, stepping through a series of planned waypoints. |
US astronaut Anne McClain and Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques oversaw events from the station's big bay window, or Cupola. They had the facility to command the Dragon to hold, retreat and even abort the docking. | US astronaut Anne McClain and Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques oversaw events from the station's big bay window, or Cupola. They had the facility to command the Dragon to hold, retreat and even abort the docking. |
After some rehearsals, the "go" was given for the final approach. | After some rehearsals, the "go" was given for the final approach. |
Attachment was made to a new type of mating adaptor on the ISS's Harmony module. | Attachment was made to a new type of mating adaptor on the ISS's Harmony module. |
This has a spring system which initially dampens the movement of the incoming vehicle, before applying a series of hooks to pull it in and make an air-tight seal - so-called "hard capture". | This has a spring system which initially dampens the movement of the incoming vehicle, before applying a series of hooks to pull it in and make an air-tight seal - so-called "hard capture". |
Saint-Jacques and ISS commander Oleg Kononenko were able to enter the Dragon a couple of hours later, after the air pressures inside the capsule and the station had been equalised. | |
The docking procedure is a step up for SpaceX because the cargo ships it normally sends to the lab have to be grappled by a robotic arm and pulled into a berthing position. The freighters do not have the sophistication to dock themselves. | The docking procedure is a step up for SpaceX because the cargo ships it normally sends to the lab have to be grappled by a robotic arm and pulled into a berthing position. The freighters do not have the sophistication to dock themselves. |
The Dragon capsule is due to stay at the ISS until Friday when it will detach and begin the journey back to Earth. | The Dragon capsule is due to stay at the ISS until Friday when it will detach and begin the journey back to Earth. |
This is the phase of the mission that SpaceX founder Elon Musk says worries him the most – the fiery, high-speed descent through the atmosphere. | This is the phase of the mission that SpaceX founder Elon Musk says worries him the most – the fiery, high-speed descent through the atmosphere. |
The Dragon's backshell, or heatshield, has a somewhat irregular shape and that could lead to temperature variations across the base of the capsule at hypersonic speeds. | The Dragon's backshell, or heatshield, has a somewhat irregular shape and that could lead to temperature variations across the base of the capsule at hypersonic speeds. |
"It should be fine, but that'll be a thing to make sure it works on re-entry," said Mr Musk. | "It should be fine, but that'll be a thing to make sure it works on re-entry," said Mr Musk. |
"Everything we know so far is looking positive. Unless something goes wrong I should think we'll be flying (people) this year; this summer, hopefully." | "Everything we know so far is looking positive. Unless something goes wrong I should think we'll be flying (people) this year; this summer, hopefully." |
The American space agency wants to contract out crew transport to SpaceX. | The American space agency wants to contract out crew transport to SpaceX. |
Whereas in the past, Nasa engineers would have top-down control of all aspects of vehicle design and the agency would own and operate the hardware - the relationship with industry has been put on a completely new footing. | Whereas in the past, Nasa engineers would have top-down control of all aspects of vehicle design and the agency would own and operate the hardware - the relationship with industry has been put on a completely new footing. |
Today, Nasa sets broad requirements and industry is given plenty of latitude in how it meets those demands. | Today, Nasa sets broad requirements and industry is given plenty of latitude in how it meets those demands. |
Agency officials still check off every step, but the approach is regarded as more efficient. | Agency officials still check off every step, but the approach is regarded as more efficient. |
Nasa chief Jim Bridenstine said it was a new era where "we are looking forward to being one customer, as an agency and as a country. | Nasa chief Jim Bridenstine said it was a new era where "we are looking forward to being one customer, as an agency and as a country. |
"We're looking forward to being one customer of many customers in a robust commercial market place in low-Earth orbit, so we can drive down costs and increase access in ways that historically have not been possible." | "We're looking forward to being one customer of many customers in a robust commercial market place in low-Earth orbit, so we can drive down costs and increase access in ways that historically have not been possible." |
Nasa is also working with Boeing on crew transport. The company has developed a capsule of its own called the Starliner. This will have its equivalent demo flight in the next couple of months. | Nasa is also working with Boeing on crew transport. The company has developed a capsule of its own called the Starliner. This will have its equivalent demo flight in the next couple of months. |
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos | Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos |