Dragon joins ISS

What is Dragon?

  • Dragon is an unmanned Cargo capsule of The SpaceX company.
  • In 2010 it became the first commercially-built and operated spacecraft to be recovered successfully from orbit.

What is unique with this mission?

  • With this rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS), Dragon has become the first became the first commercial spacecraft that has achieved this success.

What role is assigned to Dragon?

  • Dragon carried half a tonne of food and spares for the ISS.
  • It has the capability to carry upto 7 astronauts or a mixture of personnel and cargo, to and from low Earth orbit.
  • Mission: Dock with the ISS and delver 521 kg of Cargo, return to Earth with 660 kg load
  • Launched: May 22, 2012 atop a Falcon 9 rocket
  • Launching site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida

“SpaceX”

  • Has a US $1.6 billion contract with US Space agency NASA
  • To provide 12 minimum flights, with option for additional missions for cumulative contract value of $3.1 billion
  • First Commercial outfit to send a spacecraft into orbit and back in 2010

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