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SpaceX Crew Dragon docks at International Space Station
Even the aircon worked in the Muskmobile
SpaceX and NASA have finished a fine weekend's work after the Crew Dragon capsule successfully made it into orbit and docked at the International Space Station
The flight and docking appear to have gone off without a hitch. Astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley even managed to get some sleep during their 19-hour journey to the ISS, thanks to what they said was impressive ventilation in the privately built capsule.
Docking was as straightforward as can be expected when mating two vehicles that are travelling at 17,000 km/h (but of course at far less than that relative to one another, which is what matters).
Dragon ~60 meters away from the @space_station pic.twitter.com/5hjJxYyZpl
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 31, 2020
This is the first time in human history @NASA_Astronauts have entered the @Space_Station from a commercially-made spacecraft. @AstroBehnken and @Astro_Doug have finally arrived to the orbiting laboratory in @SpaceX's Dragon Endeavour spacecraft. pic.twitter.com/3t9Ogtpik4
— NASA (@NASA) May 31, 2020
“We’re just happy to be here and Chris [Cassidy] is going to put us work. And hopefully we will fit in and not mess too many things up.” @Astro_Doug on him and @AstroBehnken being the newest crew members of the @Space_Station. pic.twitter.com/Y5xZJFn2As
— NASA (@NASA) May 31, 2020
The arrival of Crew Dragon means the ISS currently has five docked spaceships. Crew Dragon will spend up to 111 days at the ISS.
The @SpaceX #CrewDragon makes five spaceships parked at the station. https://t.co/lLZYDJUn1N pic.twitter.com/la06vhjgOW
— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) May 31, 2020
While the mission's most prominent achievements are its status as the first US-powered mission taking humans to space in nine years, and in a private vehicle at that, SpaceX landed the Falcon 9 rocket used in this launch so it can be reused.
We'll ignore the fact that SpaceX also blew up a rocket last Friday. ®