SpaceX and NASA Prepare for May 7 Launch
In
a processing facility at Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air
Force Station in Florida, Space Exploration Technologies technicians
attach the Dragon capsule to the second stage of the company’s Falcon 9
rocket. Known as SpaceX, the launch will be the company's second
demonstration test flight for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation
Services program, or COTS.
During the flight, the capsule will conduct a
series of check-out procedures to test and prove its systems, including
rendezvous and berthing with the International Space Station. If the
capsule performs as planned, the NanoRacks-CubeLabs Module-9 experiments
and other cargo aboard Dragon will be transferred to the station.
The
cargo includes food, water and provisions for the station’s Expedition
crews, such as clothing, batteries and computer equipment. Under COTS,
NASA has partnered with two private companies to provide resupply
missions to the station.
Photo credit: NASA/Jim
No comments:
Post a Comment