SpaceX capsule returns to Earth, ending historic commercial trip
Source: Agencies |
June 1, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SPACE Exploration Technologies' unmanned Dragon capsule splashed down off the coast of California yesterday, completing a pioneering mission for commercial firms seeking a major role in space travel.
Riding beneath three parachutes, the bell-shaped capsule ended a nine-day spaceflight with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean about 900 kilometers west of Baja California.
Dragon, built and flown by Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, was the first privately owned spacecraft to reach the US$100 billion International Space Station, which flies about 386km above Earth.
"It's been an extremely successful joint mission," said NASA mission commentator Josh Byerly.
The United States has been without its own transportation to the station, a project of 15 nations, since its space shuttles were retired last year.
Rather than build and operate a government-owned replacement, NASA is investing in companies such as SpaceX, with the aim of buying rides for its cargo - and eventually astronauts - on commercial vehicles, a far cheaper alternative.
The successful trial run is expected to clear SpaceX to begin working off its 12-flight, US$1.6 billion NASA contract to fly cargo to the station.
A second commercial freighter, built by Orbital Sciences Corp, is expected to debut this year. Orbital also has a contract to deliver space station cargo valued at US$1.9 billion.
In yesterday's operation, astronauts detached the Dragon capsule from its berthing port on the station's Harmony connecting node using the station's 17.7-meter robotic crane. The spacecraft then soared around the planet at 28,164 kilometers per hour.
NASA's Mission Control quickly radioed praise to the six-man space station crew: "Great work, guys." Within minutes, the capsule was outside the NASA-controlled safety zone around the space station and under the complete jurisdiction of the SpaceX team in California.
European, Japanese and Russian cargo ships now flying to the station only make one-way trips, leaving Russian Soyuz spacecraft, which are used to transport crew and have little room for cargo, as the only vehicles now flying that return to Earth.
The capsule parachuted down in the style of NASA's old Mercury, Gemini and Apollo spacecraft. A Dragon has returned from orbit once before, on a solo mission in December 2010.
Russia's Soyuz spacecraft for carrying crews also parachutes down, but on land, deep inside Kazakhstan. All of the government-provided cargo vessels of Russia, Europe and Japan, meanwhile, burn up on descent.
SpaceX's billionaire founder, Elon Musk of PayPal fame, expects to have astronauts riding his Dragons in three or four years.
The next Dragon supply mission will be in September.
Riding beneath three parachutes, the bell-shaped capsule ended a nine-day spaceflight with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean about 900 kilometers west of Baja California.
Dragon, built and flown by Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, was the first privately owned spacecraft to reach the US$100 billion International Space Station, which flies about 386km above Earth.
"It's been an extremely successful joint mission," said NASA mission commentator Josh Byerly.
The United States has been without its own transportation to the station, a project of 15 nations, since its space shuttles were retired last year.
Rather than build and operate a government-owned replacement, NASA is investing in companies such as SpaceX, with the aim of buying rides for its cargo - and eventually astronauts - on commercial vehicles, a far cheaper alternative.
The successful trial run is expected to clear SpaceX to begin working off its 12-flight, US$1.6 billion NASA contract to fly cargo to the station.
A second commercial freighter, built by Orbital Sciences Corp, is expected to debut this year. Orbital also has a contract to deliver space station cargo valued at US$1.9 billion.
In yesterday's operation, astronauts detached the Dragon capsule from its berthing port on the station's Harmony connecting node using the station's 17.7-meter robotic crane. The spacecraft then soared around the planet at 28,164 kilometers per hour.
NASA's Mission Control quickly radioed praise to the six-man space station crew: "Great work, guys." Within minutes, the capsule was outside the NASA-controlled safety zone around the space station and under the complete jurisdiction of the SpaceX team in California.
European, Japanese and Russian cargo ships now flying to the station only make one-way trips, leaving Russian Soyuz spacecraft, which are used to transport crew and have little room for cargo, as the only vehicles now flying that return to Earth.
The capsule parachuted down in the style of NASA's old Mercury, Gemini and Apollo spacecraft. A Dragon has returned from orbit once before, on a solo mission in December 2010.
Russia's Soyuz spacecraft for carrying crews also parachutes down, but on land, deep inside Kazakhstan. All of the government-provided cargo vessels of Russia, Europe and Japan, meanwhile, burn up on descent.
SpaceX's billionaire founder, Elon Musk of PayPal fame, expects to have astronauts riding his Dragons in three or four years.
The next Dragon supply mission will be in September.
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