Spacex Gifts Spaceships a 'Parking Spot' on International Space Station
BENGALURU: The unmanned Dragon cargo capsule was launched to the International Space Station by SpaceX. The capsule carried key equipment that was blown in a rocket explosion last year. The international docking clamp, carried by the capsule, will act as a parking area for spaceships, and space taxis carrying astronauts securely in space; source, Timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
The docking adapter was made by SpaceX and Boeing as per the need of crew spaceships. The capsule was launched on Monday and it contained approximately 2,300 kilograms (5,000 pounds) of gear, science expedition equipments, and other necessary equipments for the astronauts in space. The first stage of Falcon 9 rocket’s return attempt will be carried out by SpaceX on NASA facility. SpaceX is owned by Elon Musk, an internet entrepreneur, has experience in landing rockets on land and several times on a barge in the Atlantic ocean.
“Setting the rocket back down on solid ground requires more propellant than a water landing, but also affords a larger and more stable area for touchdown. I think it is going to be an easier trajectory than the last one. I am pretty optimistic at this point in time that we will land it, but I would always knock on wood. Just by the nature of this maneuver, it is pretty challenging. SpaceX is still in the process of scheduling the first rocket launch using one of the pieces it has recovered, perhaps in the fall” said Hans Koenigsmann, Vice President, Flight Relaibility, SpaceX.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket burst out after 2 minutes of launch which destroyed the docking adapter and loads of gear. According to NASA, the loss incurred was estimated around $118 Mn. SpaceX claimed that due to a faulty strut that made helium tank to burst into flames.
The Dragon capsule is expected to arrive at space station on Wednesday and a Russian cargo ship was also expected to arrive on Monday. It will stay in orbit for almost a month before landing into the waters of the Pacific Ocean returning with 1,300 pounds of science experiments.
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