{"id":10992,"date":"2021-08-30T18:15:45","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T10:15:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/dragon-supply-freighter-docks-at-space-station-with-2-4-tons-of-cargo\/"},"modified":"2021-08-30T18:15:45","modified_gmt":"2021-08-30T10:15:45","slug":"dragon-supply-freighter-docks-at-space-station-with-2-4-tons-of-cargo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/dragon-supply-freighter-docks-at-space-station-with-2-4-tons-of-cargo\/","title":{"rendered":"Dragon supply freighter docks at space station with 2.4 tons of cargo"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_53148\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-53148\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-53148\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/crs23rendezvous1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/crs23rendezvous1.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/crs23rendezvous1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/crs23rendezvous1-678x452.jpeg 678w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/crs23rendezvous1-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-53148\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A SpaceX Cargo Dragon capsule approaches the International Space Station Monday. Credit: Thomas Pesquet\/ESA\/NASA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Closing out a 31-hour flight from a launch pad in Florida, a SpaceX Cargo Dragon capsule autonomously docked with the International Space Station Monday, delivering experiments, supplies, and fresh food to the complex.<\/p>\n<p>The automated cargo freighter linked up with the forward port of the space station\u2019s Harmony module at 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT), making contact with the outpost as it sailed 264 miles (424 kilometers) over Western Australia.<\/p>\n<p>A few minutes later, the cargo ship retracted its docking ring, allowing 12 hooks to drive closed, creating a firm mechanical connection between the Dragon and the space station.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHard capture complete, and another excellent Dragon docking complete,\u201d radioed Leslie Ringo, spacecraft communicator at NASA\u2019s mission control in Houston.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCongratulations to NASA and the SpaceX teams, and many thanks. No one has ever sent me a spaceship for my birthday before. I appreciate it,\u201d replied astronaut Megan McArthur from the space station.<\/p>\n<p>McArthur celebrated her 50th birthday Wednesday. She and crewmate Shane Kimbrough monitored the Dragon capsule\u2019s final approach two the space station, ready to send commands for the supply ship to abort its rendezvous in the event of an emergency.<\/p>\n<p>The Cargo Dragon capsule carried treats, such as ice cream, cheese, and fruit, for the space station\u2019s seven-person crew. McArthur tweeted later Monday that she enjoyed a birthday dinner with her crewmates.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy space brothers went all out: quesadillas and tortilla-pizzas with real cheese! Cookie decorating! Cake with chocolate \u2018candles\u2019! We haven\u2019t unpacked the ice cream yet, so I guess that means a second party?\u201d she tweeted.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: static; visibility: visible; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1432468749966352385&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fspaceflightnow.com%2F2021%2F08%2F30%2Fdragon-supply-freighter-docks-at-space-station-with-2-4-tons-of-cargo%2F&amp;sessionId=b4d079f3167b7765f3a34781e15784e596538ac6&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-tweet-id=\"1432468749966352385\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-twitter-extracted-i1782465974204598347=\"true\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">What a great birthday dinner with my Expedition 65 crew mates! My #SpaceBrothers went all out: quesadillas and tortilla-pizzas with real cheese! Cookie decorating! Cake with chocolate \u201ccandles\u201d! We haven\u2019t unpacked the ice cream yet, so I guess that means a 2nd party? <img decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" role=\"img\" class=\"emoji\" alt=\"\ud83c\udf2e\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f32e.svg\"><img decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" role=\"img\" class=\"emoji\" alt=\"\ud83c\udf55\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f355.svg\"><img decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" role=\"img\" class=\"emoji\" alt=\"\ud83c\udf82\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f382.svg\"> pic.twitter.com\/h0D85fz6ei<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Megan McArthur (@Astro_Megan) August 30, 2021<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The Cargo Dragon capsule delivered 4,866 pounds (2,207 kilograms) of supplies and experiments. The mission, known as CRS-23, marks SpaceX\u2019s 23rd resupply flight to the space station since 2012 under contract to NASA.<\/p>\n<p>It is the third flight of an upgraded variant of SpaceX\u2019s Dragon cargo ship based the company\u2019s human-rated capsule. It\u2019s the second mission for this particular spacecraft, which previously flew to the station in December 2020.<\/p>\n<p>Besides fresh food, the Dragon supply freighter delivered an array of technology demonstration, materials science, and biomedical experiments to the space station. The station astronauts plan to unpack more than a ton of science hardware from the Dragon spacecraft\u2019s pressurized cabin.<\/p>\n<p>They include a small robotic arm from GITAI Japan Inc., a Japanese company, to demonstrate in-space tasks that could lead to development of future robots to assist astronauts on long-duration space missions. The arm will run through its demonstrations, including switch and cable operations and in-space assembly experiments, inside the commercial Bishop airlock owned Nanoracks.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the tasks will be autonomous, while others will be tele-operated from Nanoracks\u2019 facility in Houston, according to GITAI.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis technology demonstration is to show the world that the capabilities necessary for automation in space are finally available,\u201d said Toyotaka Kozuki, GITAI Japan\u2019s chief technology officer, in a statement. \u201cIt provides an inexpensive and safer source of labor in space, opening the door to the true commercialization of space.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_53149\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-53149\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-53149\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/crs23rendezvous2.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/crs23rendezvous2.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/crs23rendezvous2-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/crs23rendezvous2-678x452.jpeg 678w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/crs23rendezvous2-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-53149\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A SpaceX Cargo Dragon capsule approaches the International Space Station Monday. Credit: Thomas Pesquet\/ESA\/NASA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The mission also carries an experiment hosting package called the Faraday Research Facility. Developed by a Houston company named&nbsp;ProXops, the facility will be inserted by astronauts into one of the space station\u2019s science racks.<\/p>\n<p>On this flight, the facility carries an experiment from Houston Methodist Research Institute to test an implantable, remote-controlled drug delivery system. Scientists say the experiment could offer an alternative to bulky infusion pumps to help treat chronic conditions in patients on Earth.<\/p>\n<p>NASA says the facility also hosts two educational experiments to be performed on the space station, including one with participation from a Girl Scout troop on the ground.<\/p>\n<p>The Cargo Dragon also ferried samples to the space station for a NASA materials science experiment. The Materials International Space Station Experiment, or MISSE, investigations use a platform outside the complex to test the resilience of specimens in the harsh environment of low Earth.<\/p>\n<p>NASA said the samples on the CRS-23 mission include tests of&nbsp;concrete, spacecraft materials, fiberglass composites, thin-film solar cells, radiation protection materials, and more.<\/p>\n<p>There are also multiple CubeSats stowed inside the Cargo Dragon\u2019s pressurized compartment. They will be robotically deployed outside the space station in the coming weeks and months.<\/p>\n<p>The resupply mission launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket Sunday at 3:14 a.m. EDT (0714 GMT) from NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.<\/p>\n<p>The Cargo Dragon capsule is expected to remain docked to the space station for more than a month. At the end of its mission, the spacecraft will undock and return to Earth with several tons of cargo for a parachute-assisted splashdown off the coast of Florida.<\/p>\n<p><b><i>Email the author.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Follow Stephen Clark on Twitter: @StephenClark1.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A SpaceX Cargo Dragon capsule approaches the International Space Station Monday. Credit: Thomas Pesquet\/ESA\/NASA Closing out a 31-hour flight from a launch pad in Florida, a SpaceX Cargo Dragon capsule autonomously docked with the International Space Station Monday, delivering experiments, supplies, and fresh food to the complex. The automated cargo freighter linked up with the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10992","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10992"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10992"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10992\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10992"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10992"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10992"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}