SpaceX makes a 5,500-pound delivery to ISS
It ferries supplies, hardware and hundreds of research experiments.
The Dragon capsule
SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket Saturday on the heels of a destroyed capsule in April and an electrical issue on Friday. On Monday morning, it completed a delivery to the International Space Station.
The uncrewed Dragon cargo spacecraft containing 5,500 pounds of supplies, hardware and materials, including more than 250 science and research investigations to take place on the ISS, was captured by the station's robotic arm at 4:01 a.m. PT Monday. It was then installed onto the station's Harmony module at 6:32 a.m. PT. Astronaut Nick Hague tweeted Monday an image of him assisting with the capture of the Dragon.
Robotics training came in handy today! I assisted @Astro_DavidS in capturing the @SpaceX #Dragon with Canadarm2, the robotic arm on @Space_Station. Now it's time to unpack! Learn more about the science onboard SpaceX-17: https://t.co/RAd43tA1fM pic.twitter.com/vSfDQbvlAT
— Nick Hague (@AstroHague) May 6, 2019
NASA on Monday tweeted a time-lapse video of the cargo craft being captured.
Checkout this incredible time lapse video of this morning's capture of the @SpaceX Dragon cargo craft by astronaut @Astro_DavidS of @CSA_ASC, backed up by @AstroHague of @NASA. #AskNASA | https://t.co/cBNqC5JGaz pic.twitter.com/IUp0FnpoW2
— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) May 6, 2019
After four weeks at the ISS, the Dragon, with a cargo of 4,400 pounds, will leave the space station and begin its return to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean near Baja California.
SpaceX had its first successful Dragon mission in March when it delivered 400 pounds of supplies and equipment. That mission also had its own setbacks.
Originally published, May 6.
Update, May 7: Adds tweet from astronaut.
