Spacex Dragon Attached To Space Station In Spaceflight First

May 25, 2012

Trent J. Perrotto
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0321
trent.j.perrotto@nasa.gov

Josh Byerly
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
josh.byerly@nasa.gov




RELEASE: 12-172

SPACEX DRAGON ATTACHED TO SPACE STATION IN SPACEFLIGHT FIRST

HOUSTON -- The International Space Station's Expedition 31 crew
grappled and attached SpaceX's Dragon capsule to the space station
Friday. This is the first time a commercial company has accomplished
this type of space operation.

"Today marks another critical step in the future of American
spaceflight," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. "Now that a
U.S. company has proven its ability to resupply the space station, it
opens a new frontier for commercial opportunities in space -- and new
job creation opportunities right here in the U.S. By handing off
space station transportation to the private sector, NASA is freed up
to carry out the really hard work of sending astronauts farther into
the solar system than ever before. The Obama Administration has set
us on an ambitious path forward and the NASA and SpaceX teams are
proving they are up to the task."

Following a series of system tests and a successful fly-under of the
space station Thursday, the Dragon capsule was cleared by NASA to
approach the station Friday. Dragon then performed a series of
intricate test maneuvers as it approached the orbiting laboratory.
These maneuvers were required to demonstrate the maneuvering and
abort capability of Dragon prior to approaching and moving into a
65-foot (20-meter) "berthing box" where it was grappled by NASA
astronaut Don Pettit using the station's robotic arm at 9:56 a.m.
EDT.

European Space Agency astronaut Andre Kuipers installed the capsule on
the bottom of the station's Harmony node at 11:52 a.m. NASA astronaut
Joe Acaba completed berthing operations by bolting the Dragon to
Harmony at 12:02 p.m.

"Congratulations to the SpaceX and NASA teams," said William
Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for NASA's Human Exploration
and Operations Mission Directorate at the agency's headquarters in
Washington. "There is no limit to what can be accomplished with hard
work and preparation. This activity will help the space station reach
its full research potential and open up space-based research to a
larger group of researchers. There is still critical work left in
this test flight. Dragon-attached operations and cargo return are
challenging and yet to be accomplished."

The Dragon capsule lifted off Tuesday from the Cape Canaveral Air
Force Station in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The
demonstration mission is the second under NASA's Commercial Orbital
Transportation Services program, which provides investments intended
to lead to regular resupply missions to the space station and
stimulate the commercial space industry in America.

"The investments made by the United States to stimulate the commercial
space industry are paying off," said Philip McAlister, director for
Commercial Spaceflight Development at NASA Headquarters. "SpaceX
achieved what until now was only possible by a few governments, and
the company did it with relatively modest funding from the
government.

The Dragon capsule is delivering 1,014 pounds of supplies to the
station, which includes non-critical experiments, food, clothing and
technology. Crew members will open the hatch to the capsule Saturday
and unload the cargo during a four-day period. Dragon then will be
loaded with 1,367 pounds of hardware and cargo no longer needed
aboard the station in preparation for the spacecraft's return to
Earth. Dragon and station hatches will be closed on May 30.

On May 31, the Expedition 31 crew members will detach Dragon from
Harmony, maneuver it to a 33-foot release point and un-grapple the
capsule. Dragon will deorbit approximately four hours after leaving
the station, taking about 30 minutes to re-enter Earth's atmosphere
and landing in the Pacific Ocean about 250 miles west of southern
California.

For up-to-date SpaceX mission information and a schedule of NASA
Television coverage, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/spacex

For more information about the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

For more information about NASA's commercial space programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial


-end-



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