On November 11, 2023, the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft’s thrusters fire automatically as it orchestrates a slow, methodical approach to the International Space Station for docking with the Harmony module’s forward port. . Credit: NASA NASA and space x postpones the undocking of the SpaceX Dragon cargo supply spacecraft for Thursday, Dec. 14. international space station (ISS) Severe weather is the result of a cold front passing through the landing zone off the coast of Florida. The joint team will continue to assess weather conditions to determine the best opportunity for Dragon to autonomously leave the space station and determine the next available opportunity by 5:05 p.m. EST Friday, December 15th. Weather permitting for Friday’s undock, coverage of Dragon’s departure will begin at 4:45 p.m. on the NASA+ streaming service. web or NASA app. The coverage will also be broadcast live on NASA Television. YouTubeand the agency’s Website.learn how Stream NASA TV Through various platforms including social media. After re-entering the atmosphere, the spacecraft will splash down off the coast of Florida. SpaceX’s Dragon supply ship will approach the International Space Station carrying more than 6,200 pounds of scientific experiments, crew supplies and other cargo to resupply the crew of Expedition 68. At the time this photo was taken, both spacecraft were flying 429 miles above the Indian Ocean near Madagascar. SpaceX’s Dragon supply ship approaches a station in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar on March 16, 2023. Credit: NASA SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft The SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft, often referred to simply as Dragon, represents a significant milestone in commercial spaceflight. The Dragon spacecraft, developed by SpaceX, an American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company founded by Elon Musk, is designed to transport cargo to and from the International Space Station (ISS). The spacecraft is notable for being the first commercially built and operated spacecraft to be successfully recovered from orbit. Dragon made her first flight to the ISS in 2012, marking a major step forward in private sector involvement in space exploration. The Dragon can carry both pressurized and non-pressurized cargo. Its pressurized section is designed to transport scientific experiments, crew supplies such as food and clothing, and hardware. An unpressurized section known as the “trunk” carries large items such as scientific equipment and satellite components. SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft is also unique in its ability to return large amounts of cargo to Earth, a capability previously limited to Russia’s Soyuz and Progress spacecraft. This return capability is essential for transporting scientific samples and experimental results to Earth for further analysis. Dragon will launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and autonomously dock with the ISS. After completing its mission, the spacecraft re-enters the atmosphere, falls into the Pacific Ocean, and is recovered. Overall, the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft is a critical component in the current landscape of space exploration and logistics, enhancing the ability to efficiently and safely transport materials into space. (function(d, s, id){ var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.6”; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));
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