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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Dragon closes in on the Space Station

Yesterday morning, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket lifted its Dragon capsule into orbit. Since then, Dragon has been conducting tests to ensure that it is functioning safely, so that it can approach the ISS. This morning, NASA's ISS Update announced that all of the required tests had been completed satisfactorily. Some of the tests were of aborts--how the Dragon will move away if things don't go well.

Meanwhile, engineer-astronauts Don Pettit and Andre Kuipers have been practicing the maneuver they'll need Friday--grasping the Dragon with the Station's long manipulator arm.

Dragon is in essentially the same orbit as the Station, following it. Beginning tonight, it will perform a fly-under. You can watch it on  NASA TV beginning at 2:30 AM. If you don't want to stay up, I'll let you know how it went tomorrow at a decent hour.

SpaceX has prepared a truly excellent press kit that has all the details and schedules of this significant mission. Right now the point in the schedule is at the top of page 10.

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